ELL2, a new member of an ELL family of RNA polymerase II elongation factors

ABSTRACT

ELL2 polypeptides and polynucleotides and methods for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for utilizing ELL2 polypeptides and polynucleotides in the design of protocols for the treatment of neoplastic disorders, among others and diagnostic assays for such conditions.

This application claims the benefit of the filing date of provisional application 60/038,447 filed on Feb. 19, 1997, which is herein incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to newly identified polynucleotides, polypeptides encoded by them and to the use of such polynucleotides and polypeptides, and to their production. More particularly, the polynucleotides and polypeptides of the present invention relate to a new member of an ELL family of RNA polymerase II elongation factors, hereinafter referred to as ELL2. The invention also relates to inhibiting or activating the action of such polynucleotides and polypeptides.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The elongation stage of eukaryotic messenger RNA synthesis is a major site for the regulation of gene expression (Reines, D. et al., Trends. Biochem. Sci. 21:351-355 (1996), Bentley, D. L., Curr. Opin. Genet. Dev. 5:210-216 (1995)). Moreover, a growing body of evidence suggests that mis-regulation of elongation may be a key element in a variety of human diseases (Aso, T. et al., J. Clin. Invest. 97:1561-1569 (1996)).

To date, one virally encoded protein (Tat) and five cellular proteins (SII, P-TEFb, TFIIF, Elongin (SIII), and ELL) have been defined biochemically and shown to be capable of controlling the activity of the RNA polymerase II elongation complex. Among these elongation factors, three have been implicated in human disease. The HIV-1 encoded Tat protein is required for efficient transcription of HIV-1 genes and for productive infection by the virus (Jones, K. A. & Peterlin, B. M., Annu. Rev. Biochem. 63:717-743 (1994)). Elongin (SIII) is a potential target for regulation by the product of the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor gene, which is mutated in the majority of clear-cell renal carcinomas and in families with VHL disease, a rare genetic disorder that predisposes individuals to a variety of cancers (Duan, D. R. et al., Science 269:1402-1406 (1995), Kibel, A. et al., Science 269:1444-1446 (1995)). The ELL gene on chromosome 19pl3.1 was originally isolated as a gene that undergoes frequent translocations with the Drosophila trithorax-like MLL gene on chromosome 11q23 in acute myeloid leukemia (Thirman, M. J. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 91:12110-12114 (1994), Mitani, K. et al., Blood 85:2017-2024 (1995)).

This indicates that these proteins have an established, proven history as therapeutic targets. Clearly there is a need for identification and characterization of further related proteins which can play a role in preventing, ameliorating or correcting dysfunctions or diseases, including, but not limited to, AIDS and neoplastic disorders, among others.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the invention to ELL2 polypeptides and recombinant materials and methods for their production. Another aspect of the invention relates to methods for using such ELL2 polypeptides and polynucleotides. Such uses includes the treatment of neoplastics disorders, among others. In still another aspect, the invention relates to methods to identify agonists and antagonists using the materials provided by the invention, and treating conditions associated with ELL2 imbalance with the identified compounds. Yet another aspect of the invention relates to diagnostics assays for the detection of diseases associated with inappropriate ELL2 activity or levels and mutations in ELL2 that might lead to neoplastic disorders (particularly leukemias).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1A-1C shows the nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequence of human ELL2 (SEQ ID NOS: 1 and 2, respectively).

FIG. 2 shows a comparison of the deduced amino acid sequences of human ELL2 (SEQ ID NO:2) and ELL (SEQ ID NO:7). Similar amino acids (A,S,T,P; D,E,N,Q; H,R,K; I,L,M,V; F,Y,W) and identical amino acids are boxed.

FIG. 3 shows the localization of the ELL2 elongation activation domain and a summary of ELL2 mutants and their activities in transcription. Wild type ELL2 is diagramed at the bottom of the panel. Conserved regions 1, 2, and 3 (R1, R2, and R3) are indicated by the shaded boxes. The alignment of region 3 (SEQ ID NO:2) with the C-terminal ZO-1 binding domain of occludin (SEQ ID NO:8) was generated with the BESTFIT program of the Genetics Computer Group package, using the symbol comparison table of Gribskov and Burgess (Gribskov, M. & Burgess, R. R., Nucleic. Acids. Res. 14:6745-6763 (1986)).

FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of the pHE4-5 expression vector (SEQ ID NO:33) and the subcloned ELL2 cDNA coding sequence. The locations of the kanamycin resistance marker gene, the ELL2 coding sequence, the oriC sequence, and the lacIq coding sequence are indicated.

FIG. 5 shows the nucleotide sequence of the regulatory elements of the pHE promoter (SEQ ID NO:34). The two lac operator sequences, the Shine-Delgarno sequence (S/D), and the terminal HindIII and NdeI restriction sites (italicized) are indicated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Definitions

The following definitions are provided to facilitate understanding of certain terms used frequently herein.

"Neoplastic disorder" refers to a disease state which is related to the hyperproliferation of cells. Neoplastic disorders include, but are not limited to, carcinomas, sarcomas and leukemias.

"Protein Activity" or "Biological Activity of the Protein" refers to the metabolic or physiologic function of said ELL2 protein including similar activities or improved activities or these activities with decreased undesirable side-effects. Also included are antigenic and immunogenic activities of said ELL2 protein. Among the physiological or metabolic activities of said protein are the regulation of the activity of the RNA polymerase II elongation complex. As demonstrated in Example 1, ELL2 increases the overall rate of elongation by RNA polymerase II during both promoter-dependent and -independent transcription. Additional activities include the ability to bind components of the RNA polymerase II elongation complex and SH3 domains.

"ELL2 polypeptides" refers to polypeptides with amino acid sequences sufficiently similar to ELL2 protein sequences that they exhibit at least one biological activity of the protein.

"ELL2 gene" refers to a polynucleotide having the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 or the nucleotide sequence encoding the protein as contained in the cDNA insert of ATCC Deposit No. 97863 or allelic variants thereof and/or their complements.

"ELL2 polynucleotides" refers to a polynucleotide containing a nucleotide sequence which encodes an ELL2 polypeptide or fragment thereof or that encodes an ELL2 polypeptide or fragment wherein said nucleotide sequence has at least 95% identity to a nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2 or the corresponding fragment thereof or which has sufficient identity to a nucleotide sequence contained in SEQ ID NO:1 or contained in the cDNA insert of ATCC Deposit No. 97863 to hybridize under conditions useable for amplification or for use as a probe or marker.

"Antibodies" as used herein includes polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies, chimeric, single chain, and humanized antibodies, as well as Fab fragments, including the products of an Fab or other immunoglobulin expression library.

"Isolated" means altered "by the hand of man" from the natural state. If an "isolated" composition or substance occurs in nature, it has been changed or removed from its original environment, or both. For example, a polynucleotide or a polypeptide naturally present in a living animal is not "isolated," but the same polynucleotide or polypeptide separated from the coexisting materials of its natural state is "isolated", as the term is employed herein. Thus, a polypeptide or polynucleotide produced and/or contained within a recombinant host cell is considered isolated for purposes of the present invention. Also intended as an "isolated polypeptide" or an "isolated polynucleotide" are polypeptides or polynucleotides that have been purified, partially or substantially, from a recombinant host cell or from a native source. For example, a recombinantly produced version of the ELL2 polypeptide can be substantially purified by the one-step method described in Smith and Johnson, Gene 67:31-40 (1988).

"Polynucleotide" generally refers to any polyribonucleotide or polydeoxribonucleotide, which may be unmodified RNA or DNA or modified RNA or DNA. "Polynucleotides" include, without limitation single- and double-stranded DNA, DNA that is a mixture of single- and double-stranded regions, single- and double-stranded RNA, and RNA that is mixture of single- and double-stranded regions, hybrid molecules comprising DNA and RNA that may be single-stranded or, more typically, double-stranded or a mixture of single- and double-stranded regions. In addition, "polynucleotide" refers to triple-stranded regions comprising RNA or DNA or both RNA and DNA. The term polynucleotide also includes DNAs or RNAs containing one or more modified bases and DNAs or RNAs with backbones modified for stability or for other reasons. "Modified" bases include, for example, tritylated bases and unusual bases such as inosine. A variety of modifications have been made to DNA and RNA; thus, "polynucleotide" embraces chemically, enzymatically or metabolically modified forms of polynucleotides as typically found in nature, as well as the chemical forms of DNA and RNA characteristic of viruses and cells. "Polynucleotide" also embraces relatively short polynucleotides, often referred to as oligonucleotides.

"Polypeptide" refers to any peptide or protein comprising two or more amino acids joined to each other by peptide bonds or modified peptide bonds, i. e., peptide isosteres. "Polypeptide" refers to both short chains, commonly referred to as peptides, oligopeptides or oligomers, and to longer chains, generally referred to as proteins. Polypeptides may contain amino acids other than the 20 gene-encoded amino acids. "Polypeptides" include amino acid sequences modified either by natural processes, such as post-translational processing, or by chemical modification techniques which are well known in the art. Such modifications are well described in basic texts and in more detailed monographs, as well as in a voluminous research literature. Modifications can occur anywhere in a polypeptide, including the peptide backbone, the amino acid side-chains and the amino or carboxyl termini. It will be appreciated that the same type of modification may be present in the same or varying degrees at several sites in a given polypeptide. Also, a given polypeptide may contain many types of modifications. Polypeptides may be branched as a result of ubiquitination, and they may be cyclic, with or without branching. Cyclic, branched and branched cyclic polypeptides may result from post-translation natural processes or may be made by synthetic methods. Modifications include acetylation, acylation, ADP-ribosylation, amidation, covalent attachment of flavin, covalent attachment of a heme moiety, covalent attachment of a nucleotide or nucleotide derivative, covalent attachment of a lipid or lipid derivative, covalent attachment of phosphotidylinositol, cross-linking, cyclization, disulfide bond formation, demethylation, formation of covalent cross-links, formation of cystine, formation of pyroglutamate, formylation, gamma-carboxylation, glycosylation, GPI anchor formation, hydroxylation, iodination, methylation, myristoylation, oxidation, proteolytic processing, phosphorylation, prenylation, racemization, selenoylation, sulfation, transfer-RNA mediated addition of amino acids to proteins such as arginylation, and ubiquitination. See, for instance, PROTEINS--STRUCTURE AND MOLECULAR PROPERTIES, 2nd Ed., T. E. Creighton, W. H. Freeman and Company, New York, 1993 and Wold, F., Posttranslational Protein Modifications: Perspectives and Prospects, pgs. 1-12 in POSTTRANSLATTONAL COVALENT MODIFICATION OF PROTEINS, B. C. Johnson, Ed., Academic Press, New York, 1983; Seifter et al., "Analysis for protein modifications and nonprotein cofactors", Methods in Enzymol. 182:626-646 (1990) and Rattan et al., "Protein Synthesis: Posttranslational Modifications and Aging", Ann NY Acad Sci 663:48-62 (1992).

"Variant" as the term is used herein, is a polynucleotide or polypeptide that differs from a reference polynucleotide or polypeptide respectively, but retains essential properties. A typical variant of a polynucleotide differs in nucleotide sequence from another, reference polynucleotide. Changes in the nucleotide sequence of the variant may or may not alter the amino acid sequence of a polypeptide encoded by the reference polynucleotide. Nucleotide changes may result in amino acid substitutions, additions, deletions, fusions and truncations in the polypeptide encoded by the reference sequence, as discussed below. A typical variant of a polypeptide differs in amino acid sequence from another, reference polypeptide. Generally, differences are limited so that the sequences of the reference polypeptide and the variant are closely similar overall and, in many regions, identical. A variant and reference polypeptide may differ in amino acid sequence by one or more substitutions, additions, deletions in any combination. A substituted or inserted amino acid residue may or may not be one encoded by the genetic code. A variant of a polynucleotide or polypeptide may be a naturally occurring such as an allelic variant, or it may be a variant that is not known to occur naturally. Non-naturally occurring variants of polynucleotides and polypeptides may be made by mutagenesis techniques or by direct synthesis.

"Identity" is a measure of the identity of nucleotide sequences or amino acid sequences. In general, the sequences are aligned so that the highest order match is obtained. "Identity" per se has an art-recognized meaning and can be calculated using published techniques. (See, e.g.: COMPUTATIONAL MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, Lesk, A. M., ed., Oxford University Press, New York, 1988; BIOCOMPUTING: INFORMATICS AND GENOME PROJECTS, Smith, D. W., ed., Academic Press, New York, 1993; COMPUTER ANALYSIS OF SEQUENCE DATA, PART I, Griffin, A. M., and Griffin, H. G., eds., Humana Press, New Jersey, 1994; SEQUENCE ANALYSIS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, von Heinje, G., Academic Press, 1987; and SEQUENCE ANALYSIS PRIMER, Gribskov, M. and Devereux, J., eds., M Stockton Press, New York, 1991). While there exist a number of methods to measure identity between two polynucleotide or polypeptide sequences, the term "identity" is well known to skilled artisans (Carillo, H. & Lipton, D., SIAM J Applied Math 48:1073 (1988)). Methods commonly employed to determine identity or similarity between two sequences include, but are not limited to, those disclosed in Guide to Huge Computers, Martin J. Bishop, ed., Academic Press, San Diego, 1994, and Carillo, H. & Lipton, D., SIAM J Applied Math 48:1073 (1988). Methods to determine identity and similarity are codified in computer programs. Preferred computer program methods to determine identity and similarity between two sequences include, but are not limited to, GCS program package (Devereux, J., et al., Nucleic Acids Research 12(i):387 (1984)), BLASTP, BLASTN, FASTA (Atschul, S. F., et al., J Molec Biol 215:403 (1990)).

By a polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence at least, for example, 95% "identical" to a reference nucleotide sequence encoding a ELL2 polypeptide is intended that the nucleotide sequence of the polynucleotide is identical to the reference sequence except that the polynucleotide sequence may include up to five point mutations per each 100 nucleotides of the reference nucleotide sequence encoding the ELL2 polypeptide. In other words, to obtain a polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence at least 95% identical to a reference nucleotide sequence, up to 5% of the nucleotides in the reference sequence may be deleted or substituted with another nucleotide, or a number of nucleotides up to 5% of the total nucleotides in the reference sequence may be inserted into the reference sequence. These mutations of the reference sequence may occur at the 5' or 3' terminal positions of the reference nucleotide sequence or anywhere between those terminal positions, interspersed either individually among nucleotides in the reference sequence or in one or more contiguous groups within the reference sequence.

Deposited Material

The invention relates to polypeptides and polynucleotides of a novel ELL2 protein, which is related by amino acid sequence identity to the members of the ELL family of RNA polymerase II elongation factors. The invention relates especially to ELL2 materials having the nucleotide and amino acid sequences set out in SEQ ID NOS:1 and 2, and to the ELL2 nucleotide sequences of the human cDNA in ATCC Deposit No. 97863 and amino acid sequence encoded therein.

A deposit containing a human ELL2 cDNA has been deposited with the American Type Culture Collection, 10801 University Blvd., Manassas, Va. 20110-2209, USA, on Jan. 31, 1997, and assigned ATCC Deposit No. 97863. The deposited material is an expression vector referred to as pET-ELL2. This vector was constructed, as described in Example 1, by the insertion of an ELL2 cDNA sequence into the SalI and BamHI sites of M13mpET (Tan, S. et al., BioTechniques 16:824-828 (1994)) followed by oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis (Kunkel, T. A., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 82:488-492 (1985)). While the ATCC deposit is believed to contain the ELL2 cDNA sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:1, the nucleotide sequence of the polynucleotide contained in the deposited material, as well as the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide encoded thereby, are controlling in the event of any conflict with any description of sequences herein.

The deposit has been made under the terms of the Budapest Treaty on the international recognition of the deposit of micro-organisms for purposes of patent procedure. The deposit is provided merely as convenience to those of skill in the art and is not an admission that a deposit is required for enablement, such as that required under 35 U.S.C. § 112.

Polypeptides of the Invention

The ELL2 polypeptides of the present invention include the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2, as well as polypeptides and fragments which have activity which have at least 95% identity to the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2 or the relevant portion and more preferably at least 96%, 97% or 98% identity to the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2 and still more preferably at least 99% identity to the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2.

The polypeptides of the present invention are preferably provided in an isolated form.

The polypeptides of the present invention include the polypeptide encoded by the deposited cDNA; a polypeptide comprising amino acids from about 1 to about 640 in SEQ ID NO:2; a polypeptide comprising amino acids from about 2 to about 640 in SEQ ID NO:2; a polypeptide comprising amino acids from about 7 to about 350 in SEQ ID NO:2; a polypeptide comprising amino acids from about 50 to about 389 in SEQ ID NO:2; a polypeptide comprising amino acids from about 443 to about 474 in SEQ ID NO:2; a polypeptide comprising amino acids from about 516 to about 640 in SEQ ID NO:2; as well as polypeptides which are at least 95% identical, and more preferably at least 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% identical to the polypeptides described above and also include portions of such polypeptides with at least 30 amino acids and more preferably at least 50 amino acids.

The ELL2 polypeptides may be a part of a larger protein such as a fusion protein. It is often advantageous to include additional amino acid sequence which contains secretory or leader sequences, pro-sequences, sequences which aid in purification such as multiple histidine residues, or additional sequence for stability during recombinant production.

Biologically active fragments of the ELL2 polypeptides are also included in the invention. A fragment is a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence that entirely is the same as part but not all of the amino acid sequence of the aforementioned ELL2 polypeptides. As with ELL2 polypeptides, fragments may be "free-standing," or comprised within a larger polypeptide of which they form a part or region, most preferably as a single continuous region. Representative examples of polypeptide fragments of the invention include, for example, fragments from about amino acid number 1-20,21-40,41-60,61-80,81-100, 101-120,121-140,141-160,161-180,181-200,201-220,221-240,241-260,261-280, 281-300,301-320,321-340,341-360,361-380,381-400,401-420,421-440,441-460,461-480,481-500,501-520,521-540,541-560,561-580,581-600,601-620, and 621-640. In this context "about" includes the particularly recited ranges larger or smaller by several, a few, 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 amino acid at either extreme or at both extremes.

Preferred fragments include, for example, truncation polypeptides having the amino acid sequence of ELL2 polypeptides, except for deletion of a continuous series of residues that includes the amino terminus, or a continuous series of residues that includes the carboxyl terminus or deletion of two continuous series of residues, one including the amino terminus and one including the carboxyl terminus. Also preferred are fragments characterized by structural or functional attributes such as fragments that comprise alpha-helix and alpha-helix forming regions, beta-sheet and beta-sheet-forming regions, turn and turn-forming regions, coil and coil-forming regions, hydrophilic regions, hydrophobic regions, alpha amphipathic regions, beta amphipathic regions, flexible regions, surface-forming regions, substrate binding region, and high antigenic index regions. Biologically active fragments are those that mediate protein activity, including those with a similar activity or an improved activity, or with a decreased undesirable activity. Also included are those that are antigenic or immunogenic in an animal, especially in a human.

Thus, the polypeptides of the invention include polypeptides having an amino acid sequence at least 95% identical to that of SEQ ID NO:2 or fragments thereof with at least 95% identity to the corresponding fragment of SEQ ID NO:2 all of which retain the biological activity of the ELL2 protein, including antigenic activity. Included in this group are variants of the defined sequence and fragment. Preferred variants are those that vary from the referents by conservative amino acid substitutions--ie., those that substitute a residue with another of like characteristics. Typical such substitutions are among Ala, Val, Leu and Tyr; among Ser and Thr; among the acidic residues Asp and Glu; among Asn and Gln; and among the basic residues Lys and Arg, or aromatic residues Phe and Tyr. Particularly preferred are variants in which several, 5-10, 1-5, or 1-2 amino acids are substituted, deleted, or added in any combination.

The ELL2 polypeptides of the invention can be prepared in any suitable manner. Such polypeptides include isolated naturally occurring polypeptides, recombinantly produced polypeptides, synthetically produced polypeptides, or polypeptides produced by a combination of these methods. Means for preparing such polypeptides are well understood in the art.

Polynucleotides of the Invention

An other aspect of the invention relates to isolated polynucleotides which encode the ELL2 polypeptides and polynucleotides closely related thereto.

ELL2 protein of the invention, is structurally related to other proteins of ELL family of RNA polymerase II elongation factors, as shown by the results of sequencing the cDNA encoding human ELL2 in the deposited clone. The cDNA sequence contains an open reading frame encoding a protein of 640 amino acids with a deduced molecular weight of about 72,354 Da. Thus, ELL2 has a molecular weight of about 72 kilodaltons. ELL2 of SEQ ID NO:2 has about 49% identity over its entirety with ELL.

One polynucleotide of the present invention encoding ELL2 protein may be obtained using standard cloning and screening, from a cDNA library derived from mRNA in cells of human fetal heart using the expressed sequence tag (EST) analysis (Adams, M. D., et al., Science 252:1651-1656 (1991); Adams, M. D., et al., Nature 355:632-634; Adams, M. D., et al., Nature 377 Supp:3-174 (1995)). Polynucleotides of the invention can also be obtained from natural sources such as genomic DNA libraries or can be synthesized using well known and commercially available techniques.

Thus, the nucleotide sequence encoding ELL2 polypeptides may be identical over its entire length to the coding sequence in SEQ ID NO:1 or may be a degenerate form of this nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2, or may be highly identical to a nucleotide sequence that encodes the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2. Preferably, the polynucleotides of the invention contain a nucleotide sequence that is highly identical, at least 95% identical, with a nucleotide sequence encoding an ELL2 polypeptide or at least 95% identical with the encoding nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1.

When the polynucleotides of the invention are used for the recombinant production of ELL2 polypeptide, the polynucleotide may include the coding sequence for the full-length polypeptide or a fragment thereof, by itself; the coding sequence for the full-length polypeptide or fragment in reading frame with other coding sequences, such as those encoding a leader or secretory sequence, a pre-, or pro or prepro-protein sequence, or other fusion peptide portions. For example, a marker sequence which facilitates purification of the fused polypeptide can be encoded. In certain preferred embodiments of this aspect of the invention, the marker sequence is a hexa-histidine peptide, as provided in the pQE vector (Qiagen, Inc.) and described in Gentz et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 86:821-824 (1989), or is an HA tag. The polynucleotide may also contain non-coding 5' and 3' sequences, such as transcribed, non-translated sequences, splicing and polyadenylation signals, ribosome binding sites and sequences that stabilize mRNA.

Among particularly preferred embodiments of the invention are polynucleotides encoding ELL2 polypeptides having the amino acid sequence of set out in SEQ ID NO:2 and variants thereof

Embodiments of the invention include isolated nucleic acid molecules comprising a polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence at least 95% identical, and more preferably at least 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% identical to (a) a nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide having the amino acid sequence in SEQ ID NO:2; (b) a nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide having the amino acid sequence in SEQ ID NO:2, but lacking the N-terminal methionine; (c) a nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide having the amino acid sequence at positions from about 7 to about 350 in SEQ ID NO:2; (d) a nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide having the amino acid sequence at positions from about 50 to about 389 in SEQ ID NO:2; (e) a nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide having the amino acid sequence at positions from about 443 to about 474 in SEQ ID NO:2; (f) a nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide having the amino acid sequence at positions from about 516 to about 640 in SEQ ID NO:2; (g) a nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide having the amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA clone contained in ATCC Deposit No. 97863; or (h) a nucleotide sequence complementary to any of the nucleotide sequences in (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), or (g).

As a practical matter, whether any particular nucleic acid molecule is at least 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% identical to, for instance, the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:1 or to the nucleotides sequence of the deposited cDNA clone can be determined conventionally using known computer programs such as the Bestfit program (Wisconsin Sequence Analysis Package, Version 8 for Unix, Genetics Computer Group, University Research Park, 575 Science Drive, Madison, Wis. 53711).

Further preferred embodiments are polynucleotides encoding ELL2, ELL2 variants that have the amino acid sequence of the ELL2 protein of SEQ ID NO:2 in which several, 5-10, 1-5, 1-3, 1-2 or 1 amino acid residues are substituted, deleted or added, in any combination.

Further preferred embodiments of the invention are polynucleotides that are at least 95% identical over their entire length to a polynucleotide encoding the ELL2 polypeptide having the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:2, and polynucleotides which are complementary to such polynucleotides. Most highly preferred are polynucleotides that comprise a region that is at least 95% identical over their entire length to a polynucleotide encoding the ELL2 polypeptide of the human cDNA of the deposited clone and polynucleotides complementary thereto. In this regard, polynucleotides at least 96% identical over their entire length to the same are particularly preferred, and those with at least 97% are especially preferred. Furthermore, those with at least 98% are highly preferred and with at least 99% being the most preferred.

In addition, the present inventors have identified the following cDNAs related to extensive portions of SEQ ID NO:1: HPRAE28R (SEQ ID NO:9), HSBAI43R (SEQ ID NO:10), HNEAK22RA (SEQ ID NO:11), HPRTS01R (SEQ ID NO:12), HBWAL95R (SEQ ID NO:13), and HSXCR53RA (SEQ ID NO:14). In one specific embodiment, the nucleic acid molecules of the invention are not the cDNAs identified in any of SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, and SEQ ID NO:14.

The following public ESTs, which relate to portions of SEQ ID NO:1, have also been identified: W92650 (SEQ ID NO:15), W94585 (SEQ ID NO:16), AA243384 (SEQ ID NO:17), AA655966 (SEQ ID NO:18), N39822 (SEQ ID NO:19), AA545429 (SEQ ID NO:20), R16400 (SEQ ID NO:21), T89063 (SEQ ID NO:22), AA370048 (SEQ ID NO:23), AA375277 (SEQ ID NO:24), R12663 (SEQ ID NO:25), AA414990 (SEQ ID NO:26), AA252607 (SEQ ID NO:27), AA191245 (SEQ ID NO:28), AA524290 (SEQ ID NO:29), AA370180 (SEQ ID NO:30), Z20670 (SEQ ID NO:31), and AA009921 (SEQ ID NO:32).

The present invention is further directed to fragments of the isolated nucleic acid molecules described herein. By a fragment of an isolated nucleic acid molecule having the nucleotide sequence of the deposited cDNA or the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:1 is intended fragments at least about 15 nt, and more preferably at least about 20 nt, still more preferably at least about 30 nt, and even more preferably, at least about 40 nt in length which are useful as diagnostic probes and primers as discussed herein. Of course larger DNA fragments 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500, 550, 600, 650, 700, 750, 800, 850, 900, 950, 1000,1050, 1100, 1150, 1200, 1250, 1300, 1350, 1400, 1450, 1500, 1550, 1600, 1650, 1700, 1750, 1800, 1850, 1900, 1950, 2000, 2050, 2100, or 2139 nt in length of the sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:1 are also useful according to the present invention as are fragments corresponding to most, if not all, of the nucleotide sequence of the cDNA clone contained in the plasmid deposited as ATCC Deposit No. 97863 or as shown in SEQ ID NO:1. By a fragment at least 20 nt in length, for example, is intended fragments which include 20 or more contiguous bases from the nucleotide sequence of the deposited cDNA or the nucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:1.

The present invention further relates to polynucleotides that hybridize to the herein above-described sequences. In this regard, the present invention especially relates to polynucleotides which hybridize under stringent conditions to the herein above-described polynucleotides. As herein used, the term "stringent conditions" means hybridization will occur only if there is at least 95% and preferably at least 97% identity between the sequences.

Polynucleotides of the invention which are sufficiently identical to a nucleotide sequence contained in SEQ ID NO:1 or in the cDNA insert of ATCC Deposit No. 97863, may be used as hybridization probes for cDNA and genomic DNA, to isolate full-length cDNAs and genomic clones encoding ELL2 protein and to isolate cDNA and genomic clones of other genes that have a high sequence similarity to the ELL2 gene. Such hybridization techniques are known to those of skill in the art. Typically, these nucleotide sequences are 95% identical, preferably 96% identical, more preferably 97%, 98% or 99% identical to that of the referent. The probes generally will comprise at least 15 nucleotides. Preferably, such probes will have at least 30 nucleotides and may have at least 50 nucleotides. Particularly preferred probes will range between 30 and 50 nucleotides.

In a more specific embodiment, the nucleic acid molecules of the present invention, e.g., isolated nucleic acids comprising a polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence encoding an ELL2 polypeptide or fragments thereof, are not the sequence of nucleotides, the nucleic acid molecules (e.g., clones), or the nucleic acid inserts identified in one or more of the following GenBank Accession Reports: W92650, W94585, AA243384, AA655966, N39822, AA545429 R16400, T89063, AA370048, AA375277, R12663, AA414990, AA252607, AA191245, AA524290, AA370180, Z20670, and AA009921, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The polynucleotides and polypeptides of the present invention may be employed as research reagents and materials for discovery of treatments and diagnostics to animal and human disease.

Vectors, Host Cells, Expression

The present invention also relates to vectors which comprise a polynucleotide or polynucleotides of the present invention, and host cells which are genetically engineered with vectors of the invention and the production of polypeptides of the invention by recombinant techniques. Cell-free translation systems can also be employed to produce such proteins using RNAs derived from the DNA constructs of present invention.

For recombinant production, host cells can be genetically engineered to incorporate expression systems or portions thereof for polynucleotides of the present invention. Introduction of polynucleotides into host cells can be effected by methods described in many standard laboratory manuals, such as Davis et al., BASIC METHODS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY (1986) and Sambrook et al., MOLECULAR CLONING: A LABORATORY MANUAL, 2nd Ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1989) such as calcium phosphate transfection, DEAE-dextran mediated transfection, transvection, microinjection, cationic lipid-mediated transfection, electroporation, transduction, scrape loading, ballistic introduction or infection.

Representative examples of appropriate hosts include bacterial cells, such as streptococci, staphylococci, E. coli, Streptomyces and Bacillus subtilis cells; fungal cells, such as yeast cells and Aspergillus cells; insect cells such as Drosophila S2 and Spodoptera Sf9 cells; animal cells such as CHO, COS, HeLa, C127, 3T3, BHK, 293 and Bowes melanoma cells; and plant cells.

A great variety of expression systems can be used. Such systems include, among others, chromosomal, episomal and virus-derived systems, e.g., vectors derived from bacterial plasmids, from bacteriophage, from transposons, from yeast episomes, from insertion elements, from yeast chromosomal elements, from viruses such as baculoviruses, papova viruses, such as SV40, vaccinia viruses, adenoviruses, fowl pox viruses, pseudorabies viruses, and retroviruses, and vectors derived from combinations thereof, such as those derived from plasmid and bacteriophage genetic elements, such as cosmids and phagemids. The expression systems may contain control regions that regulate as well as engender expression. Generally, any system or vector suitable to maintain, propagate or express polynucleotides to produce a polypeptide in a host may be used. The appropriate nucleotide sequence may be inserted into an expression system by any of a variety of well-known and routine techniques, such as, for example, those set forth in Sambrook et al., MOLECULAR CLONING, A LABORATORY MANUAL (supra).

For secretion of the translated protein into the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum, into the periplasmic space or into the extracellular environment appropriate secretion signals may be incorporated into the desired polypeptide. These signals may be endogenous to the polypeptide or they may be heterologous signals.

As used herein, the term "operably linked," when used in the context of a linkage between a structural gene and an expression control sequence, e.g., a promoter, refers to the position and orientation of the expression control sequence relative to the structural gene so as to permit expression of the structural gene in any host cell. For example, an operable linkage would maintain proper reading frame and would not introduce any in frame stop codons.

As used herein, the term "heterologous promoter," refers to a promoter not normally and naturally associated with the structural gene to be expressed. For example, in the context of expression of an ELL2 polypeptide, a heterologous promoter would be any promoter other than an endogenous promoter associated with the ELL2 gene in non-recombinant human chromosomes. In specific embodiments of this invention, the heterologous promoter is not a prokaryotic or bacteriophage promoter, such as the lac promoter, T3 promoter, or T7 promoter. In other embodiments, the heterologous promoter is a eukaryotic promoter.

In other embodiments this invention provides an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising an ELL2 structural gene operably linked to a heterologous promoter. As used herein, the term "an ELL2 structural gene" refers to a nucleotide sequence at least 95% identical to one of the following nucleotide sequences:

(a) a nucleotide sequence encoding the ELL2 polypeptide having the complete amino acid sequence in SEQ ID NO:2;

(b) a nucleotide sequence encoding the ELL2 polypeptide having the amino acid sequence at positions 2-640 in SEQ ID NO:2;

(c) a nucleotide sequence encoding the ELL2 polypeptide having the complete amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA clone contained in ATCC Deposit No. 97863; or

(d) a nucleotide sequence complementary to any of the nucleotide sequences in (a), (b), or (c).

In more preferred embodiments, the ELL2 structural gene is 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% identical to one or more of nucleotide sequences (a), (b), or (c) supra.

This invention also provides an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising an ELL2 structural gene operably linked to a heterologous promoter, wherein said isolated nucleic acid molecule does not encode a fusion protein comprising the ELL2 structural gene or a fragment thereof. In particular embodiments the isolated nucleic acid molecule does not encode a beta-galactosidase-ELL2 fusion protein.

This invention further provides an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising an ELL2 structural gene operably linked to a heterologous promoter, wherein said isolated nucleic acid molecule is capable of expressing an ELL2 polypeptide when used to transform an appropriate host cell. In particular embodiments, the ELL2 polypeptide does not contain and is not covalently linked to an amino acid sequence encoded by the 5' untranslated portion of the ELL2 gene, e.g., nucleotides 1-93 of SEQ ID NO:1, or a fragment thereof.

This invention also provides an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising apolynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence at least 95% identical to a sequence encoding a ELL2 polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, wherein said isolated nucleic acid molecule does not contain a nucleotide sequence at least 90% identical to the 3' untranslated region of SEQ ID NO:1 (nucleotides 2014-2139), or a fragment of the 3' untranslated region greater than 25, 50, 75, 100, or 125 bp in length. In other embodiments, said isolated nucleic acid molecule does not contain a nucleotide sequence at least 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% identical to the 3' untranslated region of SEQ ID NO:1 (nucleotides 2014-2139).

This invention further provides an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence at least 95% identical to a sequence encoding a ELL2 polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, wherein said isolated nucleic acid molecule does not contain a nucleotide sequence at least 90% identical to the 5' untranslated region of SEQ ID NO:1 (nucleotides 1-93), or a fragment of the 5' untranslated region greater than 25, 35, 45, 55, 65, 75, 85, or 90 bp. In other embodiments, said isolated nucleic acid molecule does not contain a nucleotide sequence at least 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% identical to the 5' untranslated region of SEQ ID NO:1 (nucleotides 1-93).

In addition, the present invention further includes novel expression vectors comprising operator and promoter elements operatively linked to nucleotide sequences encoding aprotein of interest. One example of such a vector is pHE4-5 which is described in detail below.

As summarized in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, components of the pHE4-5 vector (SEQ ID NO:33) include: 1) a neomycinphosphotransferase gene as a selection marker, 2) an E. coli origin of replication, 3) a T5 phage promoter sequence, 4) two lac operator sequences, 5) a Shine-Delgarno sequence, 6) the lactose operon repressor gene (lacIq). The origin of replication (oriC) is derived from pUC19 (LTI, Gaithersburg, Md.). The promoter sequence and operator sequences were made synthetically. Synthetic production of nucleic acid sequences is well known in the art. CLONTECH 95/96 Catalog, pages 215-216, CLONTECH, 1020 East Meadow Circle, Palo Alto, Calif.94303. A nucleotide sequence encoding ELL2 (SEQ ID NO:1), is operatively linked to the promoter and operator by inserting the nucleotide sequence between the NdeI and Asp718 sites of the pHE4-5 vector.

As noted above, the pHE4-5 vector contains a lacIq gene. LacIq is an allele of the lacI gene which confers tight regulation of the lac operator. Arnann, E. et al., Gene 69:301-315 (1988); Stark, M., Gene 51:255-267 (1987). The lacIq gene encodes a repressor protein which binds to lac operator sequences and blocks transcription of down-stream (i.e., 3') sequences. However, the lacIq gene product dissociates from the lac operator in the presence of either lactose or certain lactose analogs, e.g., isopropyl B-D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG). ELL2 thus is not produced in appreciable quantities in uninduced host cells containing the pHE4-5 vector. Induction of these host cells by the addition of an agent such as IPTG, however, results in the expression of the ELL2 coding sequence.

The promoter/operator sequences of the pHE4-5 vector (SEQ ID NO:33) comprise a T5 phage promoter and two lac operator sequences. One operator is located 5' to the transcriptional start site and the other is located 3' to the same site. These operators, when present in combination with the lacIq gene product, confer tight repression of down-stream sequences in the absence of a lac operon inducer, e.g., IPTG. Expression of operatively linked sequences located down-stream from the lac operators may be induced by the addition of a lac operon inducer, such as IPTG. Binding of a lac inducer to the lacIq proteins results in their release from the lac operator sequences and the initiation of transcription of operatively linked sequences. Lac operon regulation of gene expression is reviewed in Devlin, T., TEXTBOOK OF BIOCHEMISTRY WITH CLINICAL CORRELATIONS, 4th Edition (1997), pages 802-807.

The pHE4 series of vectors contain all of the components of the pHE4-5 vector except for the ELL2 coding sequence. Features of the pHE4 vectors include optimized synthetic T5 phage promoter, lac operator, and Shine-Delgamo sequences. Further, these sequences are also optimally spaced so that expression of an inserted gene may be tightly regulated and high level of expression occurs upon induction.

Among known bacterial promoters suitable for use in the production of proteins of the present invention include the E. coli lacI and lacZ promoters, the T3 and T7 promoters, the gpt promoter, the lambda PR and PL promoters and the trp promoter. Suitable eukaryotic promoters include the CMV immediate early promoter, the HSV thymidine kinase promoter, the early and late SV40 promoters, the promoters of retroviral LTRs, such as those of the Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV), and metallothionein promoters, such as the mouse metallothionein-I promoter.

The pHE4-5 vector also contains a Shine-Delgarno sequence 5' to the AUG initiation codon. Shine-Delgamo sequences are short sequences generally located about 10 nucleotides up-stream (i.e., 5') from the AUG initiation codon. These sequences essentially direct prokaryotic ribosomes to the AUG initiation codon.

Thus, the present invention is also directed to expression vector useful for the production of the proteins of the present invention. This aspect of the invention is exemplified by the pHE4-5 vector (SEQ ID NO:33).

If the ELL2 polypeptide is to be expressed for use in screening assays, generally, it is preferred that the polypeptide be produced at the surface of the cell. In this event, the cells may be harvested prior to use in the screening assay. If ELL2 polypeptide is secreted into the medium, the medium can be recovered in order to recover and purify the polypeptide; if produced intracellularly, the cells must first be lysed before the polypeptide is recovered.

ELL2 polypeptides can be recovered and purified from recombinant cell cultures by well-known methods including ammonium sulfate or ethanol precipitation, acid extraction, anion or cation exchange chromatography, phosphocellulose chromatography, hydrophobic interaction chromatography, affinity chromatography, hydroxylapatite chromatography and lectin chromatography. Most preferably, high performance liquid chromatography is employed for purification. Well known techniques for refolding proteins may be employed to regenerate active conformation when the polypeptide is denatured during isolation and or purification.

Diagnostic Assays

This invention also relates to the use of ELL2 polynucleotides for use as diagnostic reagents. Detection of a mutated form of ELL2 gene associated with a dysfunction will provide a diagnostic tool that can add to or define a diagnosis of a disease or susceptibility to a disease which results from under-expression, over-expression or altered expression of ELL2. Individuals carrying mutations in the ELL2 gene may be detected at the DNA level by a variety of techniques.

Nucleic acids for diagnosis may be obtained from a subject's cells, such as from blood, urine, saliva, tissue biopsy or autopsy material. The genomic DNA may be used directly for detection or may be amplified enzymatically by using PCR or other amplification techniques prior to analysis. RNA or cDNA may also be used in similar fashion. Deletions and insertions can be detected by a change in size of the amplified product in comparison to the normal genotype. Point mutations can be identified by hybridizing amplified DNA to labeled ELL2 nucleotide sequences. Perfectly matched sequences can be distinguished from mismatched duplexes by RNase digestion or by differences in melting temperatures. DNA sequence differences may also be detected by alterations in electrophoretic mobility of DNA fragments in gels, with or without denaturing agents, or by direct DNA sequencing. See, e.g., Myers et al., Science 230:1242 (1985). Sequence changes at specific locations may also be revealed by nuclease protection assays, such as RNase and S1 protection or the chemical cleavage method. See Cotton et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:4397-4401 (1985).

The diagnostic assays offer a process for diagnosing or determining a susceptibility to neoplastic disorders through detection of mutation in the ELL2 gene by the methods described.

In addition, neoplastic disorders, can be diagnosed by methods comprising determining from a sample derived from a subject an abnormally decreased or increased level of ELL2 polypeptide or ELL2 mRNA. Decreased or increased expression can be measured at the RNA level using any of the methods well known in the art for the quantitation of polynucleotides, such as, for example, PCR, RT-PCR, RNase protection, Northern blotting and other hybridization methods. Assay techniques that can be used to determine levels of a protein, such as an ELL2 protein, in a sample derived from a host are well-known to those of skill in the art. Such assay methods include radioimmunoassays, competitive-binding assays, Western Blot analysis and ELISA assays.

Additionally, methods are provided for diagnosing or determining a susceptibility of an individual to neoplastic disorders, comprising (a) assaying ELL2 protein gene expression level in mammalian cells or body fluid; and (b) comparing said ELL2 protein gene expression level with a standard ELL2 protein gene expression level whereby an increase or decrease in said ELL2 gene expression level over said standard is indicative of an increased or decreased susceptibility to a neoplastic disorder.

Chromosome Assays

The nucleotide sequences of the present invention are also valuable for chromosome identification. The sequence is specifically targeted to and can hybridize with a particular location on an individual human chromosome. For example, ELL2 sequences have been found by fluorescent in situ hybridization to bind to human chromosomes at 1 q21 and 5 q15. The inventors have further found that the hybrization signal from the 1 q21 locus is significantly stronger than that at 5 q15.

The mapping of relevant sequences to chromosomes according to the present invention is an important first step in correlating those sequences with genes associated disease. Once a sequence has been mapped to a precise chromosome location, the physical position of the sequence on the chromosome can be correlated with genetic map data. Such data are found, for example, in V. McKusick, Mendelian Inheritance in Man (available on-line through Johns Hopkins, University Welch Medical Library). The relationship between genes and diseases that have been mapped to the same chromosomal region are then identified through linkage analysis (coinheritence of physically adjacent genes).

The differences in the cDNA or genomic sequence between affected and unaffected individuals can also be determined. If a mutation is observed in some or all of the affected individuals but not in any normal individuals, then the mutation is likely to be the causative agent of the disease.

Antibodies

The polypeptides of the invention or their fragments or analogs thereof, or cells expressing them can also be used as immunogens to produce antibodies inmmunospecific for the ELL2 Polypeptides. By "immunospecific" is meant that the antibodies have affinities for the polypeptides of the invention that are substantially greater in their affinities for related polypeptides such as the analogous proteins of the prior art.

Antibodies generated against the ELL2 polypeptides can be obtained by administering the polypeptides or epitope-bearing fragments, analogs or cells to an animal, preferably a nonhuman, using routine protocols. For preparation of monoclonal antibodies, any technique which provides antibodies produced by continuous cell line cultures can be used. Examples include the hybridoma technique (Kohler, G. and Milstein, C., Nature 256:495-497 (1975)), the trioma technique, the human B-cell hybridoma technique (Kozbor et al., Immunology Today 4:72 (1983)) and the EBV-hybridoma technique (Cole et al., MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES AND CANCER THERAPY, pp. 77-96, Alan R. Liss, Inc., 1985).

Techniques for the production of single chain antibodies (U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,778) can also be adapted to produce single chain antibodies to polypeptides of this invention. Also, transgenic mice, or other organisms including other mammals, may be used to express humanized antibodies.

The above-described antibodies may be employed to isolate or to identify clones expressing the polypeptide or to purify the polypeptides by affinity chromatography.

Antibodies against ELL2 polypeptides may also be employed to treat neoplastic disorders, among others.

Screening Assays

The ELL2 of the present invention may be employed in a screening process for compounds which bind the protein and which activate (agonists) or inhibit activation of (antagonists) the polypeptide of the present invention. Thus, polypeptides of the invention may also be used to assess the binding of small molecule substrates and ligands in, for example, cells, cell-free preparations, chemical libraries, and natural product mixtures. These substrates and ligands may be natural substrates and ligands or may be structural or functional mimetics. See Coligan et al., Current Protocols in Immunology 1(2):Chapter 5 (1991).

By "agonist" is intended naturally occurring and synthetic compounds capable of enhancing an ELL2 activity (e.g., promoting ELL2 catalyzed increased rate of RNA elongation during transcription). By "antagonist" is intended naturally occurring and synthetic compounds capable of inhibiting an ELL2 activity.

ELL2 proteins are associated with many pathologies. Accordingly, it is desirous to find compounds and drugs which stimulate ELL2 on the one hand and which can inhibit the function of ELL2 on the other hand. In general, agonists are employed for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes including the treatment of ceratin types of neoplastic disorders. For example, the ELL gene was originally isolated as a gene that undergoes frequent translocations in acute myeloid leukemia (Thirman, M. J. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 91:12110-12114 (1994), Mitani, K. et al., Blood 85:2017-2024(1995)). ELL2 gene translocations could result in similar disorders which may be treated by enhancing ELL2 activity, e.g., by administration of an ELL2 agonist or an ELL2 polypeptide. Further, overexpression of ELL leads to the transformation of fibroblasts. Thus, antagonists of ELL2 activity may be employed for a variety of therapeutic and prophylactic purposes including the treatment of certain types of neoplastic disorders associated with overexpression of ELL2.

In general, such screening procedures involve producing appropriate cells which express the polypeptide of the present invention on the surface thereof. Such cells include cells from mammals, yeast, Drosophila or E. coli. Cells expressing the protein (or cell membrane containing the expressed protein) are then contacted with a test compound to observe binding, or stimulation or inhibition of a functional response.

The assays may simply test binding of a candidate compound wherein adherence to the cells bearing the protein is detected by means of a label directly or indirectly associated with the candidate compound or in an assay involving competition with a labeled competitor. Further, these assays may test whether the candidate compound results in a signal generated by activation of the protein, using detection systems appropriate to the cells bearing the protein at their surfaces. Inhibitors of activation are generally assayed in the presence of a known agonist and the effect on activation by the agonist by the presence of the candidate compound is observed. Standard methods for conducting such screening assays are well understood in the art.

Examples of potential ELL2 protein antagonists include antibodies or, in some cases, oligonucleotides or proteins which are closely related to the ligands of the ELL2 protein, e.g., a fragment of the ligand, or small molecules which bind to the protein but do not elicit a response, so that the activity of the protein is prevented. Such ligands include other molecules involved in the process of transcription and SH3 domains.

Prophylactic and Therapeutic Methods

This invention provides methods of treating an abnormal conditions related to both an excess of and insufficient amounts of ELL2 protein activity.

If the activity of ELL2 protein is in excess, several approaches are available. One approach comprises administering to a subject an inhibitor compound (antagonist) as hereinabove described along with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier in an amount effective to inhibit activation by blocking binding of ligands to the ELL2 protein, or by inhibiting a second signal, and thereby alleviating the abnormal condition.

In another approach, soluble forms of ELL2 polypeptides still capable of binding the ligand in competition with endogenous ELL2 protein may be administered. Typical embodiments of such competitors comprise fragments of the ELL2 polypeptide.

In still another approach, expression of the gene encoding endogenous ELL2 protein can be inhibited using expression blocking techniques. Known such techniques involve the use of antisense sequences, either internally generated or separately administered. See, for example, O'Connor, J. Neurochem 56:560 (1991) in OLIGODEOXYNUCLEOTIDES AS ANTISENSE INHIBITORS OF GENE EXPRESSION, CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla. (1988). Alternatively, oligonucleotides which form triple helices with the gene can be supplied. See, for example, Lee et al., Nucleic Acids Res 6:3073 (1979); Cooney et al., Science 241:456 (1988); Dervan et al., Science 251:1360 (1991). These oligomers can be administered per se or the relevant oligomers can be expressed in vivo.

For treating abnormal conditions related to an under-expression of ELL2 and its activity, several approaches are also available. One approach comprises administering to a subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound which activates ELL2, i.e., an agonist as described above, in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, to thereby alleviate the abnormal condition. Alternatively, gene therapy may be employed to effect the endogenous production of ELL2 by the relevant cells in the subject. For example, a polynucleotide of the invention may be engineered for expression in a replication defective retroviral vector, as discussed above. The retroviral expression construct may then be isolated and introduced into a packaging cell transduced with a retroviral plasmid vector containing RNA encoding a polypeptide of the present invention such that the packaging cell now produces infectious viral particles containing the gene of interest. These producer cells may be administered to a subject for engineering cells in vivo and expression of the polypeptide in vivo. For overview of gene therapy, see Strachan, T. & Read A. P., Chapter 20, "Gene Therapy and Other Molecular Genetic-based Therapeutic Approaches," (and references cited therein) in HUMAN MOLECULAR GENETICS, BIOS Scientific Publishers Ltd. (1996).

Formulation and Administration

Peptides, such as the soluble form of ELL2 polypeptides, and agonists and antagonist peptides or small molecules, may be formulated in combination with a suitable pharmaceutical carrier. Such formulations comprise a therapeutically effective amount of the polypeptide or compound, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient. Such carriers include but are not limited to, saline, buffered saline, dextrose, water, glycerol, ethanol, and combinations thereof. Formulation should suit the mode of administration, and is well within the skill of the art. The invention further relates to pharmaceutical packs and kits comprising one or more containers filled with one or more of the ingredients of the aforementioned compositions of the invention.

Polypeptides and other compounds of the present invention may be employed alone or in conjunction with other compounds, such as therapeutic compounds.

Preferred forms of systemic administration of the pharmaceutical compositions include injection, typically by intravenous injection. Other injection routes, such as subcutaneous, intramuscular, or intraperitoneal, can be used. Alternative means for systemic administration include transmucosal and transdermal administration using penetrants such as bile salts or fusidic acids or other detergents. In addition, if properly formulated in enteric or encapsulated formulations, oral administration may also be possible. Administration of these compounds may also be topical andlor localized, in the form of salves, pastes, gels and the like.

The dosage range required depends on the choice of peptide, the route of administration, the nature of the formulation, the nature of the subject's condition, and the judgment of the attending practitioner. Suitable dosages, however, are in the range of 0.1-100 μg/kg of subject. Wide variations in the needed dosage, however, are to be expected in view of the variety of compounds available and the differing efficiencies of various routes of administration. For example, oral administration would be expected to require higher dosages than administration by intravenous injection. Variations in these dosage levels can be adjusted using standard empirical routines for optimization, as is well understood in the art.

Polypeptides used in treatment can also be generated endogenously in the subject, in treatment modalities often referred to as "gene therapy" as described above. Thus, for example, cells from a subject may be engineered with a polynucleotide, such as a DNA or RNA, to encode a polypeptide ex vivo, and for example, by the use of a retroviral plasmid vector. The cells are then introduced into the subject.

EXAMPLE

The example below is carried out using standard techniques, which are well known and routine to those of skill in the art, except where otherwise described in detail. The example illustrates, but does not limit the invention.

Example 1 Material and Methods

Cloning and Expression of Wild Type and Mutant ELL2

A DNA fragment including ELL2 coding sequences was obtained by PCR amplification of a Lambda Zap human fetal heart library (Stratagene) using a 5' primer (5'-CAATTAACCCTCATAAAGGGAAC-3') (SEQ ID NO:3) identical to a sequence in the Lambda Zap vector and a 3' antisense primer (5'-CAAAGTTTCACCTTTTAGAATCTAGAGCAACTC-3') (SEQ ID NO:4) corresponding to a sequence in the 3'-untranslated region of the ELL2 gene. The construct for expression of histidine-tagged ELL2 in bacteria was prepared in two steps. First, a DNA fragment encoding ELL2 amino acids 11-640 was generated by PCR amplification of the original ELL2 ORF-containing PCR product using the ELL2-specific primers:

5'-GAGGTGTCGACGAGGAGCAGCGCTATGGGCTGTCGTGCGGAC-3' (SEQ ID NO:5) and

5'-GTGTGGATCCTCATCACTAGGACCATGACTCTGCTTGCTGTTG-3' (SEQ ID NO:6) and was introduced into the SalI and BamHI sites of M13mpET (Tan, S. et al., BioTechniques 16:824-828 (1994)). An expression vector containing the entire ELL2 ORF was then generated by oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis (Kunkel, T. A., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 82:488-492 (1985) ) with the Muta-Gene M13 in vitro mutagenesis kit (Bio-Rad) and confirmed by DNA sequencing; N- and C-terminal ELL2 deletion mutants were constructed by the same procedure. Wild type and mutant ELL2 proteins were expressed in E. coli, purified from guanidine-solubilized inclusion bodies by nickel affinity chromatography, and renatured as described by Shilatifard, A. et al., Science 271:1873-1876 (1996). Where indicated, the ELL2 protein was further purified by preparative SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (Shilatifard, A. et al., Science 271:1873-1876 (1996)). The human ELL protein was expressed in E. coli and purified as described (Shilatifard, A. et al., Science 271:1873-1876 (1996)).

Tissue distribution of ELL2 and ELL mRNAs

A human multiple tissue northern blot (MTN1, Clontech) was probed with PCR generated, ELL2- and ELL-specific probes chosen from a region of sequence that was most divergent between the two genes. The ELL-specific probe contained sequences encoding amino acids 317-621, and the ELL2-specific probe contained sequences encoding amino acids 327-474. Probes were labeled with [α-³² P]dCTP by random priming performed according to the manufacturer's instructions (Rediprime kit, Amersham). The blot was prehybridized in 10 ml of Hybrisol I solution (Oncor) for 3 hr at 42° C. Probe DNA was denatured and added to hybridization solution at 10⁶ cpm/ml of solution. Hybridization was carried out at 42° C. overnight. The blot was washed 10 min in 2×SSC/0.1% SDS at room temperature, 15 min in 0.2×SSC/0.1% SDS at 45° C., 10 min in 0.1×SSC/0.1% SDS at 55° C., and then exposed to film (Hyperfilm-MP, Amersham) overnight at -80° C.

Assay of the effects of ELL2 on elongation by RNA polymerase II during synthesis of promoter-independent and promoter-dependent transcripts

ELL2 and ELL have similar effects on elongation by RNA polymerase II during synthesis of promoter-independent and promoter-dependent transcripts. 10% SDS-PAGE of recombinant ELL2 (rELL2) and ELL (rELL), purified by nickel chromatography and preparative SDS-PAGE. Proteins were visualized by silver staining. Effects of ELL2 and ELL on the kinetics of promoter-dependent transcription. Preinitiation complexes were assembled at the AdML promoter with recombinant TBP, TFIIB, TFIIE, TFIIF, and purified rat TFIIH and RNA polymerase II as described (Shilatifard, A. et al., Science 271:1873-1876 (1996)). Transcription was initiated by addition of 50 μM ATP, 50 μM GTP, 2 μM UTP, 10 μCi of [α-³² P]CTP (>400 Ci/mmol, Amersham) and 7 mM MgCl₂. After 10 min at 28° C., 100 μM nonradioactive CTP was added to reaction mixture and short transcripts were chased in the absence or presence of ˜50 ng SDS-PAGE purified rELL2 or rELL for the times indicated. Transcripts were analyzed by electrophoresis through a 6% polyacrylamide, 7.0 M urea gel.

The following procedure was used to determine the effects that ELL2 and ELL have on the kinetics of promoter-independent transcription. SDS/PAGE purified histidine-tagged ELL2 and ELL proteins were renatured and assayed in pulse-chase reactions using the oligo(dC)-tailed template pCpGR220 S/P/X. Reactions contained ˜0.01 units of RNA polymerase II, 100 ng of pCpGR220S/P/X, and ˜50 ng rELL2 or ˜50 ng ELL and were performed essentially as described (Shilatifard, A. et al., Science 271:1873-1876 (1996)). The control reaction (mock) contained an identically prepared fraction from uninfected JM109(DE3) cells.

Localization of the ELL2 elongation activation domain

Wild type ELL2 and ELL2 mutants were expressed in E. coli and purified by nickel affinity chromatography as described above. Approximately 50 ng of each protein (in a maximum volume of 50 μl) was renatured and assayed as described (Shilatifard, A. et al., Science 271:1873-1876 (1996)) for its ability to stimulate synthesis of the 135 nucleotide transcript from the T-less cassette of oligo(dC)-tailed template pCpGR220 S/P/X. Reactions containing ˜0.01 unit RNA polymerase II, 100 ng template, and the indicated ELL2 proteins were incubated at 28° C. for 5 min in the presence of 50 μM ATP, 50 μM GTP, 1.8 μM CTP, and 10 μCi [α-³² P]CTP. The control reaction (mock) contained an identically prepared fraction from uninfected JM109(DE3) cells.

Results

Identification of Human ELL2

Searches of the Human Genome Sciences and GenBank EST databases identified multiple overlapping ESTs that formed a contig spanning a predicted ELL2 ORF similar in sequence to the ORF of the human ELL gene (FIG. 2). An ˜1.9 kb DNA fragment containing the entire predicted ELL2 ORF was obtained by PCR amplification of a human fetal heart library and sequenced. The ELL2 ORF encodes a 640 amino acid protein with a calculated molecular mass of 72,354 Da. As determined by the BESTFIT program of the Genetics Computer Group (GCG, Madison, Wis.) package (Genetics Computer Group, Program Manual for the GCG Package, Version 8 (Madison, Wis.) (1994)), ELL2 is 49% identical and 66% similar to ELL (alignment score ˜64 SD).

Expression of ELL2 and ELL in Human Cells

To investigate the expression of ELL2 and ELL in human cells, Northern blots containing poly A⁺ RNA from various human tissues were hybridized with ELL2- and ELL-specific probes. Consistent with previous studies (Thirman, M. J. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 91:12110-12114 (1994), Mitani, K. et al., Blood 85:2017-2024 (1995)), the ELL-specific probe hybridized to two mRNA species of ˜4.4 kb and ˜2.7 kb. The ELL2-specific probe hybridized to two mRNA species of ˜7 kb and ˜4.1 kb. At present, it is not clear whether the ˜7 kb and 4.1 kb ELL2 mRNAs are alternatively processed forms or the products of closely related genes. The results of Northern blot analysis indicate that both ELL2 and ELL mRNAs are expressed in many of the same tissues, i.e., both ELL2 and ELL mRNAs are expressed at the highest levels in pancreas, skeletal muscle, placenta, and heart, and at lower levels in lung, and brain. Unlike ELL, ELL2 is expressed at high levels in liver, but at nearly undetectable levels in kidney. Notably, the ratio of ELL2 and ELL mRNAs, as well as the ratios of the two different forms of each mRNA, exhibit tissue to tissue variation.

ELL2 and ELL Possess Similar Transcriptional Activities

ELL is capable of potently stimulating the overall rate of RNA chain elongation by RNA polymerase II (Shilatifard, A. et al., Science 271:1873-1876 (1996)). To demonstrate that ELL2 is also capable of stimulating elongation by RNA polymerase II, a DNA fragment containing the ELL2 ORF was introduced into a bacteriophage M13 expression vector under control of the T7 RNA polymerase promoter (Tan, S. et al., BioTechniques 16:824-828 (1994)) and expressed in E. coli with an N-terminal histidine tag. The recombinant ELL2 protein was purified to homogeneity from guanidine-solubilized inclusion bodies by nickel affinity chromatography and preparative SDS-gel electrophoresis, and tested for its ability to stimulate elongation.

ELL2 is an RNA polymerase II elongation factor with functional properties similar to those of ELL. The abilities of ELL2 and ELL to stimulate elongation were compared during either promoter-specific transcription carried out in the presence of the general initiation factors or promoter-independent transcription carried out using an oligo(dC)-tailed template assay, in the absence of auxiliary transcription factors.

To compare the abilities of ELL2 and ELL to stimulate the rate of elongation of promoter-specific transcripts, preinitiation complexes were assembled by preincubation of purified RNA polymerase II, TBP, TFIIB, TFIIE, TFIIF, and TFIIH with a DNA template containing the AdML promoter. Short, highly radioactive transcripts were then synthesized during a brief pulse carried out in the presence of ATP, GTP, UTP, and a limiting concentration of [α-³² P]CTP. These short, promoter-specific transcripts were then chased into full-length runoff transcripts in the presence of an excess of nonradioactive CTP and in the presence or absence of approximately equivalent levels of recombinant ELL2 or ELL. Comparison of the kinetics of accumulation of full-length runoff transcripts reveals that ELL2 and ELL have similar effects on the rate of elongation of promoter-specific transcripts by RNA polymerase II.

An oligo(dC)-tailed template assay was used to compare the abilities of ELL2 and ELL to stimulate the rate of elongation of promoter-independent transcripts. Briefly, transcription was initiated by addition of RNA polymerase II to reaction mixtures containing the oligo(dC)-tailed template pCpGR220 S/P/X (Rice, G. A. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 88:4245-4249 (1991)), ATP, GTP, and [α-³² P]CTP. Under these conditions, RNA polymerase II synthesizes ˜135 nucleotide transcripts on the T-less cassette of pCpGR220 S/P/X. These highly radioactive transcripts were then chased into longer RNAs with UTP and an excess of nonradioactive CTP, in the presence or absence of approximately equivalent levels of recombinant ELL2 or ELL. Transcripts synthesized in the presence of either ELL2 or ELL were substantially longer than transcripts synthesized in their absence; we note that many transcripts synthesized in the presence of ELL2 and ELL appear to be plasmid length. In addition, comparison of the kinetics of accumulation of long transcripts and of the distribution of RNA intermediates reveals that ELL2 and ELL have similar effects on elongation of transcripts synthesized by RNA polymerase II in the absence of auxiliary transcription factors on the oligo(dC)-tailed pCpGR220 S/P/X template.

Localization of the ELL2 Elongation Activation Domain

Comparison of the ELL2 and ELL ORFs revealed three conserved regions (FIG. 2 and FIG. 3): an N-terminal region (region 1) between ELL2 residues 7 and 350, a short lysine-rich region (region 2) between ELL2 residues 443 and 474, and a C-terminal region (region 3) between ELL2 residues 516 and 640. Although neither ELL2 nor ELL have obvious structural features such as zinc finger, leucine zipper, or helix-turn-helix motifs commonly found in transcription factors, a TBLASTN search of the GenBank database revealed that conserved region 3 of ELL2 and ELL exhibits striking similarity to the ZO-1 binding domain of occludin (SEQ ID NO:8) (Furuse, M. et al., J. Cell. Bio. 127:1617-1626 (1994)), an integral membrane protein found at tight junctions (Furuse, M. et al., J Cell. Bio. 123:1777-1788 (1993)). As determined by the BESTFIT program of the Genetics Computer Group (GCG, Madison, Wis.) package (Genetics Computer Group, Program Manual for the GCG Package, Version 8 (Madison, Wis.) (1994)), the C-terminus of ELL2 and the ZO-1 binding domain of occludin are 33% identical and 61% similar (alignment score ˜17 SD) over a 112 amino acid region. In addition, ELL2 and ELL each contain a proline-rich, non-conserved region that bridges conserved regions 1 and 2. The ELL2 proline-rich region includes several PXXP motifs that are potential binding sites for SH3 domains (Yu, H. et al., Cell 76:933-945 (1996)).

To assess the functional significance of the regions conserved between ELL2 and ELL and to localize the ELL2 elongation activation domain, a series of ELL2 deletion mutants was constructed (FIG. 3), expressed in E. coli, purified, and tested for transcriptional activity using the oligo(dC)-tailed template assay. The results of these experiments localize the ELL2 elongation activation domain to sequences in conserved region 1 between residues 50 and 389. ELL2 deletion mutants Δ194-640, Δ100-640, and Δ50-194, which each lack significant portions of region 1, had significantly reduced transcriptional activities. In contrast, ELL2 deletion mutants Δ1-10, Δ1-50, Δ499-640, and Δ389-640 all exhibited near wild type levels of activity.

Discussion

Here we report identification and characterization of ELL2, a novel RNA polymerase II elongation factor similar to previously characterized elongation factor ELL (Shilatifard, A. et al., Science 271:1873-1876 (1996)). ELL2 is the newest addition to a growing list of biochemically defined cellular proteins that are capable of regulating the activity of the RNA polymerase II elongation complex. This list now includes six cellular elongation factors: SII, P-TEFb, TFIIF, Elongin (SIII), ELL, and ELL2, which fall into two distinct functional classes (Reines, D. et al., Trends. Biochem. Sci. 21:351-355 (1996)).

SII and P-TEFb were shown previously to prevent RNA polymerase II from arresting transcription prematurely. SII protects RNA polymerase II from arrest at a variety of transcriptional impediments, including specific DNA sequences that act as intrinsic arrest sites and some DNA bound proteins and drugs. SII promotes passage of RNA polymerase II through these transcriptional impediments by a mechanisms involving reiterative endonucleolytic cleavage and re-extension of nascent transcripts held in the polymerase site (Reines, D., in Transcription: Mechanisms and Regulations, eds. Conaway, R. C. & Conaway, J. W. (Raven Press, New York) (1994), pp. 263-278). P-TEFb promotes passage of RNA polymerase II through DRB-sensitive arrest sites within a few hundred nucleotides of promoters, by a mechanism that may involve phosphorylation of the RNA polymerase II CTD (Marshall, N. F. & Price, D. H., J. Biol. Chem. 270:12335-12338 (1995), Marshall, N. F. et al., J. Biol. Chem. 271:27176-27183 (1996)). TFIIF, Elongin (SIII), and ELL were all shown previously to increase the overall rate of elongation by RNA polymerase II by decreasing the frequency or duration of transient pausing by the enzyme at many sites along DNA templates (Shilatifard, A. et al., Science 271:1873-1876 (1996), Price, D. H. et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 9:1465-1475 (1989), Aso, T. et al., Science 269:1439-1443 (1995)). Neither TFIIF, Elongin (SIII), nor ELL is capable of releasing RNA polymerase II from SII- or DRB-sensitive arrest sites.

As we have shown here, ELL2 regulates the activity of the RNA polymerase II elongation complex by a mechanism more closely resembling those of TFIIF, Elongin (SIII), and ELL. ELL2 appears to increase the overall rate of elongation by RNA polymerase II during both promoter-dependent and -independent transcription. In contrast to SII, ELL2 does not release RNA polymerase II from arrest or promote the nascent transcription cleavage reaction.

Although ELL2 and ELL are related proteins, they do not share sequence similarity throughout their entire ORFs. Alignment of their ORFs revealed that ELL2 and ELL share three regions of high homology: an N-terminal region between ELL2 residues 7 and 353, a short lysine-rich region between ELL2 residues 443-474, and a C-terminal region between ELL2 residues 516-640. Structure-function analysis reveals that ELL2 transcriptional activity resides in conserved region 1 in the ELL2 N-terminus. Neither the conserved lysine-rich region 2 nor the conserved C-terminal region 3 is required for ELL2 transcriptional activity. The functions of regions 2 and 3 are presently unknown.

A homology search of the GenBank database revealed that conserved region 3 of ELL2 and ELL bears a striking resemblance to the ZO-1 binding domain of occludin (Furuse, M. et al., J. Cell. Bio. 127:1617-1626 (1994)), an integral membrane protein localized at tight junctions in mammalian cells (Furuse, M. et al., J. Cell. Bio. 123:1777-1788 (1993)). ZO-1 is a member of the family of membrane-associated guanylate kinase homologs (MAGUKs) believed to be important in signal transduction originating from sites of cell-cell contact (Willott, E. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 90:7834-7838 (1993)). The founding member of the MAGUK family of putative signaling proteins is the product of the lethal(1)discs large-1 (dlg) tumor suppressor gene of Drosophila (Woods, D. F. & Bryant, P. J., Cell 66:541-464 (1994)). Other members of the MAGUK family include ZO-2, a second tight junction protein (Jesaitis, L. A. & Goodenough, D. A., J. Cell. Biol. 124:949-961 (1994)), PSD-95/SAP-90, which localizes to synaptic junctions (Kistner, U. et al., J. Bio. Chem. 268:4580-4583 (1993)), p55, which participates in erythrocyte membrane-cytoskeletal interactions (Ruff, P. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 88:6595-6599 (1991)), and hdlg, a human homolog of Drosophila dlg (Lue, R. A. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 91:9818-9822 (1994)). Recently, ZO-1. which is found exclusively in the cytosol of contact-inhibited cultured cells, was found to translocate to the nucleus in subconfluent cells, suggesting that ZO-1 is involved in signaling pathways controlled by cell-cell contact (Kistner, U. et al., J. Biol. Chem. 268:4580-4583 (1993)). Intriguingly, the intracellular localization of the product of the von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor gene, which has been shown to interact with and negatively regulate the B and C regulatory subunits of Elongin, is similarly regulated by cell density (Lee, S. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 93:1770-1775 (1996)). Whether conserved region 3 of ELL2 or ELL is capable of interacting with ZO-1 is presently unknown. However, ELL2 and ELL could be regulated via a signal transduction pathway involving ZO-1 or ZO-1-like protein(s).

Finally, because of their abilities to stimulate elongation by RNA polymerase II through a wide variety of DNA template sequences, TFIIF, Elongin (SIII), and ELL have been considered "general" transcription factors. Our finding that the ELL2 and ELL genes are expressed in many of the same tissues, but that the ratio of ELL2 and ELL mRNAs exhibits tissue to tissue variation, raises the possibility that ELL2 and ELL may perform gene- or tissue-specific functions.

    __________________________________________________________________________     #             SEQUENCE LISTING                                                   - -  - - (1) GENERAL INFORMATION:                                              - -    (iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 34                                           - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:1:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 2139 base - #pairs                                                 (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: double                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: both                                                    - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                               - -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                   (A) NAME/KEY: CDS                                                              (B) LOCATION: 94..2013                                                - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:1:                                - - CAGTGGCGGC GGGTGCAGAA GCCCAAGCAG CGCGGCCGCA GTGGAGGCTA GA -              #GCCGGAGC     60                                                                  - - GGCGGCGGCG GCGGCACCCC GGGGAGGTTT AAG ATG GCG GCG GG - #G GGG ACA        GGG     114                                                                                        - #                  - # Met Ala Ala Gly Gly Thr Gly                          - #                  - #   1               - #5               - - GGC CTG CGG GAG GAG CAG CGC TAT GGG CTG TC - #G TGC GGA CGG CTG GGG           162                                                                        Gly Leu Arg Glu Glu Gln Arg Tyr Gly Leu Se - #r Cys Gly Arg Leu Gly                     10         - #         15         - #         20                       - - CAG GAC AAC ATC ACC GTA CTG CAT GTG AAG CT - #C ACC GAG ACG GCG ATC           210                                                                        Gln Asp Asn Ile Thr Val Leu His Val Lys Le - #u Thr Glu Thr Ala Ile                 25             - #     30             - #     35                           - - CGG GCG CTC GAG ACT TAC CAG AGC CAC AAG AA - #T TTA ATT CCT TTT CGA           258                                                                        Arg Ala Leu Glu Thr Tyr Gln Ser His Lys As - #n Leu Ile Pro Phe Arg             40                 - # 45                 - # 50                 - # 55        - - CCT TCA ATC CAG TTC CAA GGA CTC CAC GGG CT - #T GTC AAA ATT CCC AAA           306                                                                        Pro Ser Ile Gln Phe Gln Gly Leu His Gly Le - #u Val Lys Ile Pro Lys                             60 - #                 65 - #                 70               - - AAT GAT CCC CTC AAT GAA GTT CAT AAC TTT AA - #C TTT TAT TTG TCA AAT           354                                                                        Asn Asp Pro Leu Asn Glu Val His Asn Phe As - #n Phe Tyr Leu Ser Asn                         75     - #             80     - #             85                   - - GTG GGC AAA GAC AAC CCT CAG GGC AGC TTT GA - #C TGC ATC CAG CAA ACA           402                                                                        Val Gly Lys Asp Asn Pro Gln Gly Ser Phe As - #p Cys Ile Gln Gln Thr                     90         - #         95         - #        100                       - - TTC TCC AGC TCT GGA GCC TCC CAG CTC AAT TG - #C CTG GGA TTT ATA CAA           450                                                                        Phe Ser Ser Ser Gly Ala Ser Gln Leu Asn Cy - #s Leu Gly Phe Ile Gln                105              - #   110              - #   115                           - - GAT AAA ATT ACA GTG TGT GCA ACA AAC GAC TC - #G TAT CAG ATG ACA CGA           498                                                                        Asp Lys Ile Thr Val Cys Ala Thr Asn Asp Se - #r Tyr Gln Met Thr Arg            120                 1 - #25                 1 - #30                 1 -       #35                                                                               - - GAA AGA ATG ACC CAG GCA GAG GAG GAA TCC CG - #C AAC CGA AGC ACA         AAA      546                                                                     Glu Arg Met Thr Gln Ala Glu Glu Glu Ser Ar - #g Asn Arg Ser Thr Lys                           140  - #               145  - #               150               - - GTT ATC AAA CCC GGT GGA CCA TAT GTA GGG AA - #A AGA GTG CAA ATT CGG           594                                                                        Val Ile Lys Pro Gly Gly Pro Tyr Val Gly Ly - #s Arg Val Gln Ile Arg                        155      - #           160      - #           165                   - - AAA GCA CCT CAA GCT GTT TCA GAT ACA GTT CC - #T GAG AGG AAA AGG TCA           642                                                                        Lys Ala Pro Gln Ala Val Ser Asp Thr Val Pr - #o Glu Arg Lys Arg Ser                    170          - #       175          - #       180                       - - ACC CCC ATG AAC CCT GCA AAT ACA ATT CGA AA - #G ACA CAT AGC AGC AGC           690                                                                        Thr Pro Met Asn Pro Ala Asn Thr Ile Arg Ly - #s Thr His Ser Ser Ser                185              - #   190              - #   195                           - - ACC ATC TCT CAG AGG CCA TAC AGG GAC AGG GT - #G ATT CAC TTA CTG GCC           738                                                                        Thr Ile Ser Gln Arg Pro Tyr Arg Asp Arg Va - #l Ile His Leu Leu Ala            200                 2 - #05                 2 - #10                 2 -       #15                                                                               - - CTG AAG GCC TAC AAG AAA CCG GAG CTA CTT GC - #T AGA CTC CAG AAA         GAT      786                                                                     Leu Lys Ala Tyr Lys Lys Pro Glu Leu Leu Al - #a Arg Leu Gln Lys Asp                           220  - #               225  - #               230               - - GGT GTC AAT CAA AAA GAC AAG AAC TCC CTG GG - #A GCA ATT CTG CAA CAG           834                                                                        Gly Val Asn Gln Lys Asp Lys Asn Ser Leu Gl - #y Ala Ile Leu Gln Gln                        235      - #           240      - #           245                   - - GTA GCC AAT CTG AAT TCT AAG GAC CTC TCA TA - #T ACC TTA AAG GAT TAT           882                                                                        Val Ala Asn Leu Asn Ser Lys Asp Leu Ser Ty - #r Thr Leu Lys Asp Tyr                    250          - #       255          - #       260                       - - GTT TTT AAA GAG CTT CAA AGA GAC TGG CCT GG - #A TAC AGT GAA ATA GAC           930                                                                        Val Phe Lys Glu Leu Gln Arg Asp Trp Pro Gl - #y Tyr Ser Glu Ile Asp                265              - #   270              - #   275                           - - AGA CGG TCA TTG GAG TCA GTG CTC TCT AGA AA - #A CTA AAT CCG TCT CAG           978                                                                        Arg Arg Ser Leu Glu Ser Val Leu Ser Arg Ly - #s Leu Asn Pro Ser Gln            280                 2 - #85                 2 - #90                 2 -       #95                                                                               - - AAT GCT ACA GGC ACC AGC CGT TCA GAA TCT CC - #T GTA TGT TCT AGT         AGA     1026                                                                     Asn Ala Thr Gly Thr Ser Arg Ser Glu Ser Pr - #o Val Cys Ser Ser Arg                           300  - #               305  - #               310               - - GAT GCT GTA TCT TCT CCT CAG AAA CGG CTT TT - #G GAT TCA GAG TTT ATT          1074                                                                        Asp Ala Val Ser Ser Pro Gln Lys Arg Leu Le - #u Asp Ser Glu Phe Ile                        315      - #           320      - #           325                   - - GAT CCT TTA ATG AAT AAA AAA GCC CGA ATA TC - #T CAC CTG ACG AAC AGA          1122                                                                        Asp Pro Leu Met Asn Lys Lys Ala Arg Ile Se - #r His Leu Thr Asn Arg                    330          - #       335          - #       340                       - - GTA CCA CCA ACA CTA AAT GGT CAT TTG AAT CC - #C ACC AGT GAA AAA TCG          1170                                                                        Val Pro Pro Thr Leu Asn Gly His Leu Asn Pr - #o Thr Ser Glu Lys Ser                345              - #   350              - #   355                           - - GCT GCA GGC CTC CCA CTG CCC CCT GCG GCT GC - #T GCC ATC CCC ACC CCT          1218                                                                        Ala Ala Gly Leu Pro Leu Pro Pro Ala Ala Al - #a Ala Ile Pro Thr Pro            360                 3 - #65                 3 - #70                 3 -       #75                                                                               - - CCA CCG CTG CCT TCA ACC TAT CTG CCC ATC TC - #A CAT CCT CCT CAG         ATT     1266                                                                     Pro Pro Leu Pro Ser Thr Tyr Leu Pro Ile Se - #r His Pro Pro Gln Ile                           380  - #               385  - #               390               - - GTA AAT TCT AAC TCC AAC TCC CCT AGC ACT CC - #A GAA GGC CGG GGG ACT          1314                                                                        Val Asn Ser Asn Ser Asn Ser Pro Ser Thr Pr - #o Glu Gly Arg Gly Thr                        395      - #           400      - #           405                   - - CAA GAC CTA CCT GTT GAC AGT TTT AGT CAA AA - #C GAT AGT ATC TAT GAG          1362                                                                        Gln Asp Leu Pro Val Asp Ser Phe Ser Gln As - #n Asp Ser Ile Tyr Glu                    410          - #       415          - #       420                       - - GAC CAG CAA GAC AAA TAT ACC TCT AGG ACT TC - #T CTG GAA ACC TTA CCC          1410                                                                        Asp Gln Gln Asp Lys Tyr Thr Ser Arg Thr Se - #r Leu Glu Thr Leu Pro                425              - #   430              - #   435                           - - CCT GGT TCC GTT CTA CTA AAG TGT CCA AAG CC - #T ATG GAA GAA AAC CAT          1458                                                                        Pro Gly Ser Val Leu Leu Lys Cys Pro Lys Pr - #o Met Glu Glu Asn His            440                 4 - #45                 4 - #50                 4 -       #55                                                                               - - TCA ATG TCT CAC AAA AAG TCC AAA AAG AAG TC - #T AAA AAA CAT AAG         GAA     1506                                                                     Ser Met Ser His Lys Lys Ser Lys Lys Lys Se - #r Lys Lys His Lys Glu                           460  - #               465  - #               470               - - AAG GAC CAA ATA AAA AAG CAC GAC ATT GAG AC - #T ATT GAG GAA AAG GAG          1554                                                                        Lys Asp Gln Ile Lys Lys His Asp Ile Glu Th - #r Ile Glu Glu Lys Glu                        475      - #           480      - #           485                   - - GAA GAT CTT AAG AGA GAA GAG GAA ATT GCC AA - #G CTA AAT AAC TCC AGT          1602                                                                        Glu Asp Leu Lys Arg Glu Glu Glu Ile Ala Ly - #s Leu Asn Asn Ser Ser                    490          - #       495          - #       500                       - - CCA AAT TCC AGT GGA GGA GTT AAA GAG GAT TG - #C ACT GCC TCC ATG GAA          1650                                                                        Pro Asn Ser Ser Gly Gly Val Lys Glu Asp Cy - #s Thr Ala Ser Met Glu                505              - #   510              - #   515                           - - CCT TCA GCA ATT GAA CTC CCA GAT TAT TTG AT - #A AAA TAT ATC GCT ATC          1698                                                                        Pro Ser Ala Ile Glu Leu Pro Asp Tyr Leu Il - #e Lys Tyr Ile Ala Ile            520                 5 - #25                 5 - #30                 5 -       #35                                                                               - - GTC TCC TAT GAG CAA CGC CAG AAT TAT AAG GA - #T GAC TTC AAT GCA         GAG     1746                                                                     Val Ser Tyr Glu Gln Arg Gln Asn Tyr Lys As - #p Asp Phe Asn Ala Glu                           540  - #               545  - #               550               - - TAT GAT GAG TAC AGA GCT TTG CAT GCC AGG AT - #G GAG ACT GTA GCT AGA          1794                                                                        Tyr Asp Glu Tyr Arg Ala Leu His Ala Arg Me - #t Glu Thr Val Ala Arg                        555      - #           560      - #           565                   - - AGA TTT ATC AAA CTA GAT GCA CAA AGA AAG CG - #C CTT TCT CCA GGC TCA          1842                                                                        Arg Phe Ile Lys Leu Asp Ala Gln Arg Lys Ar - #g Leu Ser Pro Gly Ser                    570          - #       575          - #       580                       - - AAA GAG TAT CAG AAT GTT CAT GAA GAA GTC TT - #A CAA GAA TAT CAG AAG          1890                                                                        Lys Glu Tyr Gln Asn Val His Glu Glu Val Le - #u Gln Glu Tyr Gln Lys                585              - #   590              - #   595                           - - ATA AAG CAG TCT AGT CCC AAT TAC CAT GAA GA - #A AAA TAC AGA TGT GAA          1938                                                                        Ile Lys Gln Ser Ser Pro Asn Tyr His Glu Gl - #u Lys Tyr Arg Cys Glu            600                 6 - #05                 6 - #10                 6 -       #15                                                                               - - TAT CTT CAT AAC AAG CTG GCT CAC ATC AAA AG - #G CTA ATA GGT GAA         TTT     1986                                                                     Tyr Leu His Asn Lys Leu Ala His Ile Lys Ar - #g Leu Ile Gly Glu Phe                           620  - #               625  - #               630               - - GAC CAA CAG CAA GCA GAG TCA TGG TCC TAGAACTCT - #G CTTGGACCAG                2033                                                                        Asp Gln Gln Gln Ala Glu Ser Trp Ser                                                        635      - #           640                                          - - AAGATGTGAA TAAACTTAAG CTTATTTATT TAAAATTCCA AATGAGTTGC TC -              #TAGATTCT   2093                                                                  - - AAAAAGGTGA AACTTTGGCT GTTGAAAGTT TCAGTATTAG TAAACT   - #                    2139                                                                         - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:2:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 640 amino - #acids                                                 (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                            - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:2:                                - - Met Ala Ala Gly Gly Thr Gly Gly Leu Arg Gl - #u Glu Gln Arg Tyr Gly         1               5 - #                 10 - #                 15               - - Leu Ser Cys Gly Arg Leu Gly Gln Asp Asn Il - #e Thr Val Leu His Val                    20     - #             25     - #             30                   - - Lys Leu Thr Glu Thr Ala Ile Arg Ala Leu Gl - #u Thr Tyr Gln Ser His                35         - #         40         - #         45                       - - Lys Asn Leu Ile Pro Phe Arg Pro Ser Ile Gl - #n Phe Gln Gly Leu His            50             - #     55             - #     60                           - - Gly Leu Val Lys Ile Pro Lys Asn Asp Pro Le - #u Asn Glu Val His Asn        65                 - # 70                 - # 75                 - # 80        - - Phe Asn Phe Tyr Leu Ser Asn Val Gly Lys As - #p Asn Pro Gln Gly Ser                        85 - #                 90 - #                 95               - - Phe Asp Cys Ile Gln Gln Thr Phe Ser Ser Se - #r Gly Ala Ser Gln Leu                   100      - #           105      - #           110                   - - Asn Cys Leu Gly Phe Ile Gln Asp Lys Ile Th - #r Val Cys Ala Thr Asn               115          - #       120          - #       125                       - - Asp Ser Tyr Gln Met Thr Arg Glu Arg Met Th - #r Gln Ala Glu Glu Glu           130              - #   135              - #   140                           - - Ser Arg Asn Arg Ser Thr Lys Val Ile Lys Pr - #o Gly Gly Pro Tyr Val       145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 -       #60                                                                               - - Gly Lys Arg Val Gln Ile Arg Lys Ala Pro Gl - #n Ala Val Ser Asp         Thr                                                                                              165  - #               170  - #               175              - - Val Pro Glu Arg Lys Arg Ser Thr Pro Met As - #n Pro Ala Asn Thr Ile                   180      - #           185      - #           190                   - - Arg Lys Thr His Ser Ser Ser Thr Ile Ser Gl - #n Arg Pro Tyr Arg Asp               195          - #       200          - #       205                       - - Arg Val Ile His Leu Leu Ala Leu Lys Ala Ty - #r Lys Lys Pro Glu Leu           210              - #   215              - #   220                           - - Leu Ala Arg Leu Gln Lys Asp Gly Val Asn Gl - #n Lys Asp Lys Asn Ser       225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 -       #40                                                                               - - Leu Gly Ala Ile Leu Gln Gln Val Ala Asn Le - #u Asn Ser Lys Asp         Leu                                                                                              245  - #               250  - #               255              - - Ser Tyr Thr Leu Lys Asp Tyr Val Phe Lys Gl - #u Leu Gln Arg Asp Trp                   260      - #           265      - #           270                   - - Pro Gly Tyr Ser Glu Ile Asp Arg Arg Ser Le - #u Glu Ser Val Leu Ser               275          - #       280          - #       285                       - - Arg Lys Leu Asn Pro Ser Gln Asn Ala Thr Gl - #y Thr Ser Arg Ser Glu           290              - #   295              - #   300                           - - Ser Pro Val Cys Ser Ser Arg Asp Ala Val Se - #r Ser Pro Gln Lys Arg       305                 3 - #10                 3 - #15                 3 -       #20                                                                               - - Leu Leu Asp Ser Glu Phe Ile Asp Pro Leu Me - #t Asn Lys Lys Ala         Arg                                                                                              325  - #               330  - #               335              - - Ile Ser His Leu Thr Asn Arg Val Pro Pro Th - #r Leu Asn Gly His Leu                   340      - #           345      - #           350                   - - Asn Pro Thr Ser Glu Lys Ser Ala Ala Gly Le - #u Pro Leu Pro Pro Ala               355          - #       360          - #       365                       - - Ala Ala Ala Ile Pro Thr Pro Pro Pro Leu Pr - #o Ser Thr Tyr Leu Pro           370              - #   375              - #   380                           - - Ile Ser His Pro Pro Gln Ile Val Asn Ser As - #n Ser Asn Ser Pro Ser       385                 3 - #90                 3 - #95                 4 -       #00                                                                               - - Thr Pro Glu Gly Arg Gly Thr Gln Asp Leu Pr - #o Val Asp Ser Phe         Ser                                                                                              405  - #               410  - #               415              - - Gln Asn Asp Ser Ile Tyr Glu Asp Gln Gln As - #p Lys Tyr Thr Ser Arg                   420      - #           425      - #           430                   - - Thr Ser Leu Glu Thr Leu Pro Pro Gly Ser Va - #l Leu Leu Lys Cys Pro               435          - #       440          - #       445                       - - Lys Pro Met Glu Glu Asn His Ser Met Ser Hi - #s Lys Lys Ser Lys Lys           450              - #   455              - #   460                           - - Lys Ser Lys Lys His Lys Glu Lys Asp Gln Il - #e Lys Lys His Asp Ile       465                 4 - #70                 4 - #75                 4 -       #80                                                                               - - Glu Thr Ile Glu Glu Lys Glu Glu Asp Leu Ly - #s Arg Glu Glu Glu         Ile                                                                                              485  - #               490  - #               495              - - Ala Lys Leu Asn Asn Ser Ser Pro Asn Ser Se - #r Gly Gly Val Lys Glu                   500      - #           505      - #           510                   - - Asp Cys Thr Ala Ser Met Glu Pro Ser Ala Il - #e Glu Leu Pro Asp Tyr               515          - #       520          - #       525                       - - Leu Ile Lys Tyr Ile Ala Ile Val Ser Tyr Gl - #u Gln Arg Gln Asn Tyr           530              - #   535              - #   540                           - - Lys Asp Asp Phe Asn Ala Glu Tyr Asp Glu Ty - #r Arg Ala Leu His Ala       545                 5 - #50                 5 - #55                 5 -       #60                                                                               - - Arg Met Glu Thr Val Ala Arg Arg Phe Ile Ly - #s Leu Asp Ala Gln         Arg                                                                                              565  - #               570  - #               575              - - Lys Arg Leu Ser Pro Gly Ser Lys Glu Tyr Gl - #n Asn Val His Glu Glu                   580      - #           585      - #           590                   - - Val Leu Gln Glu Tyr Gln Lys Ile Lys Gln Se - #r Ser Pro Asn Tyr His               595          - #       600          - #       605                       - - Glu Glu Lys Tyr Arg Cys Glu Tyr Leu His As - #n Lys Leu Ala His Ile           610              - #   615              - #   620                           - - Lys Arg Leu Ile Gly Glu Phe Asp Gln Gln Gl - #n Ala Glu Ser Trp Ser       625                 6 - #30                 6 - #35                 6 -       #40                                                                               - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:3:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 23 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                               - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:3:                                - - CAATTAACCC TCATAAAGGG AAC           - #                  - #                     23                                                                      - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:4:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 33 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                               - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:4:                                - - CAAAGTTTCA CCTTTTAGAA TCTAGAGCAA CTC       - #                  - #              33                                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:5:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 42 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                               - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:5:                                - - GAGGTGTCGA CGAGGAGCAG CGCTATGGGC TGTCGTGCGG AC    - #                       - #  42                                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:6:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 43 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                               - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:6:                                - - GTGTGGATCC TCATCACTAG GACCATGACT CTGCTTGCTG TTG    - #                       - # 43                                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:7:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 621 amino - #acids                                                 (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: Not R - #elevant                                             (D) TOPOLOGY: Not Relev - #ant                                        - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                            - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:7:                                - - Met Ala Ala Leu Lys Glu Asp Arg Ser Tyr Gl - #y Leu Ser Gly Gly Arg       1               5   - #                10  - #                15                - - Val Ser Asp Gly Ser Lys Val Ser Val Phe Hi - #s Val Lys Leu Thr Asp                   20      - #            25      - #            30                    - - Ser Ala Ile Arg Ala Phe Glu Ser Tyr Arg Al - #a Arg Gln Asp Ser Val               35          - #        40          - #        45                        - - Ser Leu Arg Pro Ser Ile Arg Phe Gln Gly Se - #r Gln Gly His Ile Ser           50              - #    55              - #    60                            - - Ile Pro Gln Pro Asp Cys Pro Ala Glu Ala Ar - #g Thr Phe Ser Phe Tyr       65                  - #70                  - #75                  - #80         - - Leu Ser Asn Ile Gly Arg Asp Asn Pro Gln Gl - #y Ser Phe Asp Cys Ile                       85  - #                90  - #                95                - - Gln Gln Tyr Val Ser Ser His Gly Glu Val Hi - #s Leu Asp Cys Leu Gly                   100      - #           105      - #           110                   - - Ser Ile Gln Asp Lys Ile Thr Val Cys Ala Th - #r Asp Asp Ser Tyr Gln               115          - #       120          - #       125                       - - Lys Ala Arg Gln Ser Met Ala Gln Ala Glu Gl - #u Glu Ile Arg Ser Arg           130              - #   135              - #   140                           - - Ser Ala Ile Val Ile Lys Ala Gly Gly Arg Ty - #r Leu Gly Lys Lys Val       145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 -       #60                                                                               - - Gln Phe Arg Lys Pro Ala Pro Gly Ala Thr As - #p Ala Val Pro Ser         Arg                                                                                              165  - #               170  - #               175              - - Lys Arg Ala Thr Pro Ile Asn Leu Ala Ser Al - #a Ile Arg Lys Ser Gly                   180      - #           185      - #           190                   - - Ala Ser Ala Val Ser Gly Gly Ser Gly Val Se - #r Gln Arg Pro Tyr Arg               195          - #       200          - #       205                       - - Asp Arg Val Ile His Leu Leu Ala Leu Arg Pr - #o Tyr Arg Lys Ala Glu           210              - #   215              - #   220                           - - Leu Leu Leu Arg Leu Gln Lys Asp Gly Leu Th - #r Gln Ala Asp Lys Asp       225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 -       #40                                                                               - - Ala Leu Asp Gly Ile Leu Gln Gln Val Ala As - #n Met Ser Ala Lys         Asp                                                                                              245  - #               250  - #               255              - - Gly Thr Cys Thr Leu Gln Asp Cys Met Tyr Ly - #s Asp Val Gln Lys Asp                   260      - #           265      - #           270                   - - Trp Pro Gly Tyr Ser Glu Gly Asp Gln Gln Le - #u Leu Lys Arg Val Leu               275          - #       280          - #       285                       - - Val Arg Lys Leu Cys Gln Pro Gln Ser Thr Gl - #y Ser Leu Leu Gly Asp           290              - #   295              - #   300                           - - Pro Ala Ala Ser Ser Pro Pro Gly Glu Arg Gl - #y Arg Ser Ala Ser Pro       305                 3 - #10                 3 - #15                 3 -       #20                                                                               - - Pro Gln Lys Arg Leu Gln Pro Pro Leu Phe Il - #e Asp Pro Leu Ala         Asn                                                                                              325  - #               330  - #               335              - - Lys Lys Pro Arg Ile Ser His Phe Thr Gln Ar - #g Ala Gln Pro Ala Val                   340      - #           345      - #           350                   - - Asn Gly Lys Leu Gly Val Pro Asn Gly Arg Gl - #u Ala Leu Leu Pro Thr               355          - #       360          - #       365                       - - Pro Gly Pro Pro Ala Ser Thr Asp Thr Leu Se - #r Ser Ser Thr His Leu           370              - #   375              - #   380                           - - Pro Pro Arg Leu Glu Pro Pro Arg Ala His As - #p Pro Leu Ala Asp Val       385                 3 - #90                 3 - #95                 4 -       #00                                                                               - - Ser Asn Asp Leu Gly His Ser Gly Arg Asp Cy - #s Glu His Gly Glu         Ala                                                                                              405  - #               410  - #               415              - - Ala Ala Pro Ala Pro Thr Val Arg Leu Gly Le - #u Pro Leu Leu Thr Asp                   420      - #           425      - #           430                   - - Cys Ala Gln Pro Ser Arg Pro His Gly Ser Pr - #o Ser Arg Ser Lys Pro               435          - #       440          - #       445                       - - Lys Lys Lys Ser Lys Lys His Lys Asp Lys Gl - #u Arg Ala Ala Glu Asp           450              - #   455              - #   460                           - - Lys Pro Arg Ala Gln Leu Pro Asp Cys Ala Pr - #o Ala Thr His Ala Thr       465                 4 - #70                 4 - #75                 4 -       #80                                                                               - - Pro Gly Ala Pro Ala Asp Thr Pro Gly Leu As - #n Gly Thr Cys Ser         Val                                                                                              485  - #               490  - #               495              - - Ser Ser Val Pro Thr Ser Thr Ser Glu Thr Pr - #o Asp Tyr Leu Leu Lys                   500      - #           505      - #           510                   - - Tyr Ala Ala Ile Ser Ser Ser Glu Gln Arg Gl - #n Ser Tyr Lys Asn Asp               515          - #       520          - #       525                       - - Phe Asn Ala Glu Tyr Ser Glu Tyr Arg Asp Le - #u His Ala Arg Ile Glu           530              - #   535              - #   540                           - - Arg Ile Thr Arg Arg Phe Thr Gln Leu Asp Al - #a Gln Leu Arg Gln Leu       545                 5 - #50                 5 - #55                 5 -       #60                                                                               - - Ser Gln Gly Ser Glu Glu Tyr Glu Thr Thr Ar - #g Gly Gln Ile Leu         Gln                                                                                              565  - #               570  - #               575              - - Glu Tyr Arg Lys Ile Lys Lys Thr Asn Thr As - #n Tyr Ser Gln Glu Lys                   580      - #           585      - #           590                   - - His Arg Cys Glu Tyr Leu His Ser Lys Leu Al - #a His Ile Lys Arg Leu               595          - #       600          - #       605                       - - Ile Ala Glu Tyr Asp Gln Arg Gln Leu Gln Al - #a Trp Pro                       610              - #   615              - #   620                           - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:8:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 108 amino - #acids                                                 (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: Not R - #elevant                                             (D) TOPOLOGY: Not Relev - #ant                                        - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                            - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:8:                                - - Asp Trp Ile Arg Glu Tyr Pro Pro Ile Thr Se - #r Asp Gln Gln Arg Gln       1               5   - #                10  - #                15                - - Leu Tyr Lys Arg Asn Phe Asp Thr Gly Leu Gl - #n Glu Tyr Lys Ser Leu                   20      - #            25      - #            30                    - - Gln Ser Glu Leu Asp Glu Ile Asn Lys Glu Le - #u Ser Arg Leu Asp Lys               35          - #        40          - #        45                        - - Glu Leu Asp Asp Tyr Arg Glu Glu Ser Glu Gl - #u Tyr Met Ala Ala Ala           50              - #    55              - #    60                            - - Asp Glu Tyr Asn Arg Leu Lys Gln Val Lys Gl - #y Ser Ala Asp Tyr Lys       65                  - #70                  - #75                  - #80         - - Ser Lys Lys Asn His Cys Lys Gln Leu Lys Se - #r Lys Leu Ser His Ile                       85  - #                90  - #                95                - - Lys Lys Met Val Gly Asp Tyr Asp Arg Gln Ly - #s Thr                                   100      - #           105                                          - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:9:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 297 base - #pairs                                                  (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: both                                                         (D) TOPOLOGY: both                                                    - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                               - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:9:                                - - CTCCACCGCT GCCTTCAACC TATCTGCCCA TCTCACATCC TCCTCAGATT GT -              #AAATTCTA     60                                                                  - - ACTCCAACTC CCCTAGCACT CCAGAAGGCC GGGGGACTCA AGACCTACCT GT -             #TGACAGTT    120                                                                  - - TTAGTCAAAA CGATAGTATC TATGAGGACC AGCAAGACAA ATATACCTCT AG -             #GACTTCTC    180                                                                  - - TGGAAACCTT ACCCCCTGGT TCCGTTCTAC TAAAGTGTCC AAAGCCTATG GA -             #AGAAAACC    240                                                                  - - ATTCAATGTC TCACAAAAAG TCCAAAAAGA AGTCTAAAAA ACATAAGGAA AA - #GGACC            297                                                                        - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:10:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 358 base - #pairs                                                  (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: both                                                         (D) TOPOLOGY: both                                                    - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                               - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:10:                               - - CGCAACCGAA GCACAAAAGT TATCAAACCC GGTGGACCAT ATGTAGGGAA AA -              #GAGTGCAA     60                                                                  - - ATTCGGAAAG CACCTCAAGC TGTTTCAGAT ACAGTTCCTG AGAGGAAAAG GT -             #CAACCCCC    120                                                                  - - ATGAACCCTG CAAATACAAT TCGAAAGACA CATAGCAGCA GCACCATCTC TC -             #AGAGGCCA    180                                                                  - - TACAGGGACA GGGTGATTCA NTTACTGGCC CTGAAGGCCT ACAAGAAACC GG -             #AGCTACTT    240                                                                  - - GCTAGACTCC AGAAAGATGG TGTCAATCAA AAAGACAAGA ACTCCCTGGG GA -             #GGCAATTN    300                                                                  - - TTGCAACAGG TAGNCCAATC TGGATTTCTA AGGGACCTCT TCATATTACC TT -             #TAAAGG      358                                                                  - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:11:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 362 base - #pairs                                                  (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: both                                                         (D) TOPOLOGY: both                                                    - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                               - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:11:                               - - AGCGNCGTNN TCGNCGGGCA CCCCGGGGAG TTTGAAGATG GCGGCGGGGG GG -             #ACAGGGGG     60                                                                  - - CCTNCGGGAG GAGCAGCGCT ATGGGCTGTC GTGCCGGACG GCTGGGGCAG GA -             #CAACATCA    120                                                                  - - CCGTACTGCA TGTNAAAGCT TCACCGAGAC GGNCGATTCC GGGGCGGTTC GA -             #GAACTTAC    180                                                                  - - CAGAGCCACA AGNNTTTNAA TTCCCTTTTC GGACCTTCAA TCCAGTTTCC AA -             #GGACTCCA    240                                                                  - - CGGGCTTTGT NCAAAAATTT CCCAAAAATG ATTCCCCTTC AATGGANAGT TC -             #ATAAATTT    300                                                                  - - TAAATTTTTA ATTTGTTCAA ATNTTGGGGN AAAGNCAAAC CTTCAAGGGC NA -             #GTTTTGGA    360                                                                  - - CT                  - #                  - #                  - #                  362                                                                   - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:12:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 477 base - #pairs                                                  (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: both                                                         (D) TOPOLOGY: both                                                    - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                               - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:12:                               - - AATTCGGCAC GAGCATGGTC CTAGAACTCT GCTTNGACCA GAAGATGTGA AT -              #AAACTTAA     60                                                                  - - GCTTATTTAT TTAAAATTCC AAATGAGTTN NTCTAGNTTC TAAAAAGGTG AA -             #ACTTTGGC    120                                                                  - - TGTTGAAAGT TTCAGTATTA GTAAACTTGA GTTACTTTNN CTTTTCCATT TN -             #ACTTTGCT    180                                                                  - - TCCCTGCATT TCGAAGCTGC TCTTTCTGGT CCTCCCCACC ACCCCACCCC CA -             #AGACTTGT    240                                                                  - - GTTTGTTAAT AGAAATAATT TTTTTAGGTA TTGGGGATCC ATTGTCTATT AT -             #TTCAAATC    300                                                                  - - AAGNTTTTTN TTTNTCCTCA AAAANCTTGT GGTTTTGTGA TTAGGAAATG GN -             #TTTTTTAG    360                                                                  - - ATATTGGGGN TCCAGTGTCC NCACTTGAAA AGGTGGGNAG GGGTTTAAAA AA -             #NAGCANCA    420                                                                  - - GTAATNTGCA AGGTGNAATG NTTTTGGTNA ACGGANGCCA TTTTCCGACG TN - #CTTAA            477                                                                        - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:13:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 178 base - #pairs                                                  (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: both                                                         (D) TOPOLOGY: both                                                    - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                               - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:13:                               - - AAACATTCTC CAGCTCTGGG ACCTCCCANC TCAATTCCCT GGGAATTNAT AC -              #AAGATAAA     60                                                                  - - ATTACAGTGT GTGCACAAAC GACTCGTATC AAATGACACG AGAAANANTG AC -             #CCAGGCAG    120                                                                  - - NGGAGGGAAT CCCGCAACCA ANGCACAAAA GTTATTCAAA CCCGGTGGGA CC -             #ATATNT      178                                                                  - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:14:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 158 base - #pairs                                                  (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: both                                                         (D) TOPOLOGY: both                                                    - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                               - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:14:                               - - GNCCTTTCTC CANTCTCAAA AGNGNTATCA CAATGTTCAT GNAAGAAGTC TT -             #ACAAGAAT     60                                                                  - - ATCAGAAGAT AAAGCCAGTC TAGTCCCAAT TACCATGAAG NAAAAATACA GA -             #TGTGNAAT    120                                                                  - - ATCTTCATAA CAAGCTGGCT CACATCAAAA GGCTAATN      - #                       - #    158                                                                      - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:15:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 438 base - #pairs                                                  (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: both                                                         (D) TOPOLOGY: both                                                    - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                               - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:15:                               - - ATAAATAAGC TTAAGTTTAT TCACATCTTC TGGTCCAAGC AGAGTTCTAG GA -              #CCATGACT     60                                                                  - - CTGCTTGCTG TTGGTCAAAT TCACCTATTA GCCTTTTGAT GTGAGCCAGC TT -             #GTTATGAA    120                                                                  - - GATATTCACA TCTGTATTTT TCTTCATGGT AATTGGGACT AGACTGCTTT AT -             #CTTCTGAT    180                                                                  - - ATTCTTGTAA GACTTCTTCA TGAACATTCT GATACTCTTT TGAGCCTGGA GA -             #AAGGCGCT    240                                                                  - - TTCTTTGTGC ATCTAGTTTG ATAAATCTTC TAGCTACAGT CTCCATCCTG GC -             #ATGCAAAG    300                                                                  - - CTCTGTACTC ATCATACTCT GCATTGAAGT CATCCTTATA ATTCTGGCGT TG -             #CTCATAGG    360                                                                  - - AGACGATAGC GATATATTTT ATCAAATAAT CTGGGAGTTC AATTGCTGAA GG -             #GTCCATGG    420                                                                  - - AGGCAGTGCA ATCCTCTT             - #                  - #                       - # 438                                                                   - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:16:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 459 base - #pairs                                                  (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: both                                                         (D) TOPOLOGY: both                                                    - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                               - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:16:                               - - GCGNCCGCAG TGGANGGCTA GAGCGNAGCG CGCGGCGGCG GNCACCCCGG GG -              #AGTTTAAG     60                                                                  - - ATGGCGGCNG GGGGGACAGG GGGCCTGCGG GAGGAGCAGC GCTATGGGCT GT -             #CGTGCGGA    120                                                                  - - CGGCTGGGGC AGGACAACAT CACCGTACTG CATGTGAAGC TCACCGAGAC GG -             #CGATCCGG    180                                                                  - - GCGCTCGAGA CTTACCAGAG CCACAAGAAT TTAATTCCTT TTCGACCTTC AA -             #TCCAGTTC    240                                                                  - - CAAGGACTCC ACGGGCTTGT CAAAATTCCC AAAAATGATC CCCTCAATGA AG -             #TTCATAAC    300                                                                  - - TTTAACTTTT ATTTGTCAAA TGTGGGCAAA GACAACCCTC AGGGCAAGCT TT -             #GACTGCAT    360                                                                  - - CCAGCAAACA TTCTCCAGCT CTGGAGCCTC CCAGCTCAAT TGCCTNGGGA TT -             #TATACAAG    420                                                                  - - ATAAAATTAC AGTGTGTGCA ACAAACGACT CGTATCAGA      - #                       - #   459                                                                      - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:17:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 412 base - #pairs                                                  (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: both                                                         (D) TOPOLOGY: both                                                    - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                               - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:17:                               - - TGGGATTCAA ATGACCATTT AGTGTTGGTG GTACTCTGTT CGTCAGGTGA GA -              #TATTCGGG     60                                                                  - - CTTTTTTATT CATTAAAGGA TCAATAAACT CTGAATCCAA AAGCCGTTTC TG -             #AGGAGAAG    120                                                                  - - ATACAGCATC TCTACTAGAA CATACAGGAG ATTCTGAACG GCTGGTGCCT GT -             #AGCATTCT    180                                                                  - - GAGACGGATT TAGTTTTCTA GAGAGCACTG ACTCCAATGA CCGTCTGTCT AT -             #TTCACTGT    240                                                                  - - ATCCAGGCCA GTCTCTTTGA AGCTCTTTAA AAACATAATC CTTTAAGGGA TA -             #TGAGAGGT    300                                                                  - - CCTTAGAATT CAGATTGGCT AGCTGTTGCA GAATTGCTCC CAGGGAGTTC TT -             #GTCTTTTT    360                                                                  - - GATTGACACC ATCTTTCTGG AGTCCTACAA GTAGCTCCGG GTTTCTTGTA GG - #                 412                                                                        - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:18:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 487 base - #pairs                                                  (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: both                                                         (D) TOPOLOGY: both                                                    - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                               - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:18:                               - - CCAAATAAAG AAACTTGACA TTGAGACCAT GGAGGAGAAG GAGGAAGACC TT -              #CAGAGAGA     60                                                                  - - AGAAACTGCC AAGCTGAGTA ATGCCAGTCC AAATCCCAAT GAAGGAGTTA AA -             #GAAGGGTG    120                                                                  - - CACAGCCTCC ATGGAGCCTT CTTCAGCACT TGAACTCCCA GATTATTTGA TA -             #AAATATAT    180                                                                  - - TGCTATTGTC TCTTATGAGC AACGCCAGAA TTACAAGGAT GACTTCAATG CT -             #GAGTATGA    240                                                                  - - TGAATACAGA GCTTTGCATG CAAGGATGGA GACTGTAGCC AGGAGATTTA TT -             #AAACTGGA    300                                                                  - - TGCACAACGA AAACGCCTTT CTCCAGGTTC AAAAGAGTAC CAGAATGTTC AT -             #GAAGAAGT    360                                                                  - - CTTACAGGAA TATCAGAAGA TCAAGCAGTC CAGTCCCAAT TACCATGAAG AA -             #AAATACAG    420                                                                  - - ATGTGAATAT CTTCATAACA AGCTGGCTCA CATCAAAGAC TAATAGGTCG AA -             #TTTGACCA    480                                                                  - - ACAGCAA                 - #                  - #                        - #         487                                                                   - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:19:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 525 base - #pairs                                                  (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: both                                                         (D) TOPOLOGY: both                                                    - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                               - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:19:                               - - GCTTTGCATG CCAGGATGGA GACTGTAGCT AGAAGATTTA TCAAACTAGA TG -             #CACAAAGA     60                                                                  - - AAGCGCCTTT CTCCAGGCTC AAAAGAGTAT CAGAATGTTC ATGAAGAAGT CT -             #TACAAGAA    120                                                                  - - TATCAGAAGA TAAAGCAGTC TAGTCCCAAT TACCATGAAG AAAAATACAG AT -             #GTGAATAT    180                                                                  - - CTTCATAACA AGCTGGCTCA CATCAAAAGG CTAATAGGTG AATTTGACCA AC -             #AGCAAGCA    240                                                                  - - GAGTCATGGT CCTAGAACTC TGCTTGGACC AGAAGATGTG AATAAACTTA AG -             #CTTATTTA    300                                                                  - - TTTAAAATTC CAAATGAGTT GCTCTAGATT CTAAAAAGGT GAAACTTTGG CT -             #GTTGAAAG    360                                                                  - - TTTCAGTATT AGTAAACTTN GAGTTACTTT TTCTTTTCCA TTTTACTTTG CT -             #TCCCTGCA    420                                                                  - - TTTCGGAAGC TGCCTCTTTN CTGGGTCCTC NCCACTNGGG GCCAGCCCCC AA -             #GNACTTGG    480                                                                  - - TGTTTTGGTT AATAGGNAAT AATTTTCTTT AAGGGAATTG GGGGA   - #                      525                                                                         - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:20:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 455 base - #pairs                                                  (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: both                                                         (D) TOPOLOGY: both                                                    - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                               - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:20:                               - - TTAGTCAAAA TGGTAGCATC TTTGAGGACC AGCAAGAAAA ATATACCTCA AG -              #GACTTGTC     60                                                                  - - TGGAAACATT ACCCCCCAGC TCAGCTCTGC TAAAGTGTCC AAAGCCCATG GA -             #AGAAGAGC    120                                                                  - - ATCCAGTGTC TCACAAAAAG TCCAAAAAGA AGTCTAAAAA ACACAAGGAA AA -             #GGACCAAA    180                                                                  - - TAAAGAAACT TGACATTGAG ACCATGGAGG AGAAGGAGGA AGACCTTCAG AG -             #AGAAGAAA    240                                                                  - - CTGCCAAGCT GAGTAATGCC AGTCCAAATC CCAATGAAGG AGTTAAAGAA GG -             #GTGCACAG    300                                                                  - - CCTCCATGGA GCCTTCTTCA GCACTTGAAC TCCCAGATTA TTTGATAAAA TA -             #TATTGCTA    360                                                                  - - TTGTCTCTTA TGAGCAACGC CAGAATTACA AGGATGACTT CAATGCTGAG TA -             #TGATGAAT    420                                                                  - - ACAGAGCTTT GCATGCAAGG ATGGAGACTG TAGCG       - #                        - #      455                                                                      - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:21:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 379 base - #pairs                                                  (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: both                                                         (D) TOPOLOGY: both                                                    - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                               - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:21:                               - - TCACTTACTG GCCCTGAAGG CTACAAGAAA CCGGAGCTAC TTGCTAGACT CC -             #AGAAAGAT     60                                                                  - - GGTGTCAATC AAAAAGACAA GAACTCCCTG GGAGCAATTC TGCAACAGGT AG -             #CCAATCTG    120                                                                  - - AATTCTAAGG ACCTCTCATA TACCTTAAAG GATTATGTTT TTAAAGAGCT TC -             #AAAGAGAC    180                                                                  - - TGGCCTGGNT ACAGTGAAAT AGACAGACGG TCATTGGAGT CAGTGCTCTC TA -             #GAAAACTA    240                                                                  - - AATCCGTCTC AGAATGCTAC AGGCACCAGC CTNTCAGAAT CTCCTGTATG TT -             #CTAGTAGA    300                                                                  - - GATGCTGTAT CTTCTCCTCA GGAAACGGCT TTTGGGTTTC AGAGTTTATT TG -             #ATCCCTTT    360                                                                  - - AATGGANTTA AAAAAGGCT             - #                  - #                       - #379                                                                   - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:22:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 519 base - #pairs                                                  (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: both                                                         (D) TOPOLOGY: both                                                    - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                               - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:22:                               - - NTCACTTACT GGCCCTGAAG CTANCAAGAA ACCGGAGCTA CTTGCTAGAC TC -              #CAGAAAGA     60                                                                  - - TGGTGTCAAT CAAAAAGACA AGAACTCCCT GGGAGCAATT CTGCAACAGG TA -             #GCCAATCT    120                                                                  - - GAATTCTAAG GACCTCTCAT ATACCTTAAA GGATTATGTT TTTAAAGAGC TT -             #CAAAGAGA    180                                                                  - - CTGGCCTGGG ATACAGTGAA ATAGACAGAC GGTCATTGGA GTCAGTGCTC TC -             #TAGAAAAC    240                                                                  - - TAAATCCGTC TCAGAATGCT ACAGGCACCA GCGTTTCAGA ATCTCCTGTA TG -             #TTCTAGTA    300                                                                  - - GGAGATGCTG TATCTTCTCC TCAGGAAACG GCTTTTGGGT TCAGGAGTTT AT -             #TTGATCCN    360                                                                  - - TTTAATGGAT TAAAAAAGGC CCCGATTATT CTTCACCTGG ACGGAACAGA GT -             #TACCNCCC    420                                                                  - - AACATTAATG GGTCCNTTTG GATTCCCACC AGTGGAAAAT TGGGTGGCGG GC -             #TTNCCCAT    480                                                                  - - TGCCCCTGNG GGTGGTGGCN TTCCCCACCC TTNCACCGG      - #                       - #   519                                                                      - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:23:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 297 base - #pairs                                                  (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: both                                                         (D) TOPOLOGY: both                                                    - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                               - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:23:                               - - CTCCACCGCT GCCTTCAACC TATCTGCCCA TCTCACATCC TCCTCAGATT GT -              #AAATTCTA     60                                                                  - - ACTCCAACTC CCCTAGCACT CCAGAAGGCC GGGGGACTCA AGACCTACCT GT -             #TGACAGTT    120                                                                  - - TTAGTCAAAA CGATAGTATC TATGAGGACC AGCAAGACAA ATATACCTCT AG -             #GACTTCTC    180                                                                  - - TGGAAACCTT ACCCCCTGGT TCCGTTCTAC TAAAGTGTCC AAAGCCTATG GA -             #AGAAAACC    240                                                                  - - ATTCAATGTC TCACAAAAAG TCCAAAAAGA AGTCTAAAAA ACATAAGGAA AA - #GGACC            297                                                                        - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:24:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 358 base - #pairs                                                  (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: both                                                         (D) TOPOLOGY: both                                                    - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                               - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:24:                               - - CGCAACCGAA GCACAAAAGT TATCAAACCC GGTGGACCAT ATGTAGGGAA AA -              #GAGTGCAA     60                                                                  - - ATTCGGAAAG CACCTCAAGC TGTTTCAGAT ACAGTTCCTG AGAGGAAAAG GT -             #CAACCCCC    120                                                                  - - ATGAACCCTG CAAATACAAT TCGAAAGACA CATAGCAGCA GCACCATCTC TC -             #AGAGGCCA    180                                                                  - - TACAGGGACA GGGTGATTCA NTTACTGGCC CTGAAGGCCT ACAAGAAACC GG -             #AGCTACTT    240                                                                  - - GCTAGACTCC AGAAAGATGG TGTCAATCAA AAAGACAAGA ACTCCCTGGG GA -             #GGCAATTN    300                                                                  - - TTGCAACAGG TAGNCCAATC TGGATTTCTA AGGGACCTCT TCATATTACC TT -             #TAAAGG      358                                                                  - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:25:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 285 base - #pairs                                                  (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: both                                                         (D) TOPOLOGY: both                                                    - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                               - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:25:                               - - TTTTGTGAGA CATTGAATGG TTTTCTTCCA TAGGCTTTGG ACACTTTAGT AG -             #AACGGAAC     60                                                                  - - CAGGGGGTAA GGTTTCCAGA GAAGTCCTAG AGGTATATTT GTCTTGCTGG TC -             #CTCATAGA    120                                                                  - - TACTATCGTT TTGACTAAAA CTNTCAACAG GTAGGTCTTG AGTCCCCCGG CC -             #TTCTGGAG    180                                                                  - - TGCTAGGGGA GTTGGAGTTA GAATTTACAA TCTGAGGAGG ATGTGAGATG GG -             #CAGATAGG    240                                                                  - - TTGAAGGCAG CGGTGGAGGG GTGGGGATGG CAGCAGCCCA GGGGG   - #                      285                                                                         - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:26:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 431 base - #pairs                                                  (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: both                                                         (D) TOPOLOGY: both                                                    - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                               - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:26:                               - - TTTATTCCAA ACAGCATCAT CTACAACTCA TAATCGCAGG CTCCTCCAGT TC -              #ATTTAACA     60                                                                  - - CAGAAAGCAG GCTTTTTTCT CTTTTCCCAT TTAAACAAAT GTAAAATACC TT -             #CATTGGGA    120                                                                  - - TTTGGACTGG CATTACTCAG CTTGGCAGTT TCTTCTCTCT GAAGGTCTTC CT -             #CCTTCTCC    180                                                                  - - TCCATGGTCT CAATGTCAAG TTTCTTTATT TGGTCCTTTT CCTTGTGTTT TT -             #TAGACTTC    240                                                                  - - TTTTTGGACT TTTTGTGAGA CACTGGATGC TCTTCTTCCA TGGGCTTTGG AC -             #ACTTTAGC    300                                                                  - - AGAGTGAGCT GGGGGGTAAT GTTTCCAGAC AAGTCCTTGA GGTATATTTT TC -             #TTGCTGGT    360                                                                  - - CCTCAAAGAT GCTACCATTT TGACTAAAAC TGTCAACAGG CAGGTCTTGA GT -             #CCCAGGCC    420                                                                  - - TTCTGGAGTG C               - #                  - #                       - #      431                                                                   - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:27:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 196 base - #pairs                                                  (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: both                                                         (D) TOPOLOGY: both                                                    - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                               - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:27:                               - - CACCGAGACG GCGATCCGGG CGCTCGAGAC TTACCAGAGC CACAAGAATT TA -              #ATTCCTTT     60                                                                  - - TCGACCTTCA ATCCAGTTCC AAGGACTCCA CGGGCTTGTC AAAATTCCCA AA -             #AATGATCC    120                                                                  - - CCTCAATGAA GTTCATAACT TTAACTTTTA TTTGTCAAAT GTGGGCAAAG AC -             #AACCCTCA    180                                                                  - - GGGGAGCTTG GGCTGC             - #                  - #                       - #   196                                                                   - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:28:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 197 base - #pairs                                                  (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: both                                                         (D) TOPOLOGY: both                                                    - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                               - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:28:                               - - ACCATCTCTC AGAGGCCATA CAGGGACAGG GTGATTCACT TACTGGCCCT GA -              #AGGCNTAC     60                                                                  - - AAGAAACCGG AGCTACTTGC TAGACTCCAG AAAGATGGTG TCAATCAAAA AG -             #ACAAGAAC    120                                                                  - - TCCCTGGGAG CAATTCTGCA ACAGGTAGCC AATCTGAATN CTAAGGACCT CN -             #TCATATAC    180                                                                  - - CTTAAAGGAT TATGTTT             - #                  - #                       - #  197                                                                   - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:29:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 348 base - #pairs                                                  (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: both                                                         (D) TOPOLOGY: both                                                    - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                               - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:29:                               - - GCGCCCGGCA GTGGAGGCTA GAGCCGCAGC GCGCGGCGGG CGGACACCGC CG -              #GGGAGGTT     60                                                                  - - TAAGAGTGGC GGCTGGGGGG GACAGGGGGG CCTGCAGGGA GGAGCAGCGC TA -             #TGGGCTGT    120                                                                  - - CGTGCGGACG GCGTGGGGCA GGACAACATC ACCGTACTGC ATGTGAAGCT CA -             #CCGAGACG    180                                                                  - - GCGATCCGGG CGCTCGAGAC TTACCAGAGC CACAAGAATT TAATTCCTTT TC -             #GACCTTCA    240                                                                  - - ATCCAGTTCC AAGGACTCCA CGGGGTGAGT ACTCTTATTG ATTTAACAAA CA -             #AATCTAAT    300                                                                  - - GTTCTTGCAC GCTATTCAAC TTTTAAAATC CGTTTTCAGT TGACCCTT  - #                    348                                                                         - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:30:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 184 base - #pairs                                                  (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: both                                                         (D) TOPOLOGY: both                                                    - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                               - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:30:                               - - GGAATTTTAA ATAAATAAGC TTAAGTTTAT TCACATCTNC TGGTCCAAGC AG -              #AGTTCTAG     60                                                                  - - GACCATGACT CTGCTTGCTG TTGGTCAAAT TCACCTATTA GCCTTTNGAT GT -             #GAGCCAGC    120                                                                  - - TTGTTATGAA GATATTCACA TCTGTATTTT NCTTCATGGT AATTGGGACT AG -             #ACTGCTTT    180                                                                  - - ATCT                 - #                  - #                  - #                 184                                                                   - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:31:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 280 base - #pairs                                                  (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: both                                                         (D) TOPOLOGY: both                                                    - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                               - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:31:                               - - TCCTAGAACT CTGCTTGGAC CAGAAGATGT GAATAAACTT AAGCTTATTT AT -              #TTAAAATC     60                                                                  - - ACAAATGAGT TGCTCTAGAT TCTAAAAGGG TGAAACTTTG ACTGTTGAAA GT -             #TTAAGTAT    120                                                                  - - TAGTAAACTT GAGTTACTTT TTCTTTCAAA TTTCACTCCG CTTCCCTGCA TT -             #TCGAAGCT    180                                                                  - - GCTCTTTCTG GTCCTACCCA CCACCCCACC AACAAGACTT GTGTTTGTTA AT -             #AGAAATAA    240                                                                  - - TTTATCAAGG TATTGGGGAT CCATTGTCTA TATTTAAAAC     - #                       - #   280                                                                      - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:32:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 255 base - #pairs                                                  (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: both                                                         (D) TOPOLOGY: both                                                    - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                               - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:32:                               - - AACTAGCAGT CCCTTTGGGC CAATTGATGT AATTATTTTC AGTGTAAATC CN -              #AAAGGTTG     60                                                                  - - CCTGTTTTAN GNTAGGAGAT GATAGTAAAA ATACCTAATG CTCTGTTTTT AT -             #ACCTCATA    120                                                                  - - CTAGGTAGCC AATCTGAATT CTAAGGACCT CTCATATACC TTAAAGGATT AT -             #GTTTNTAA    180                                                                  - - AGAGCTTCAA AGAGACTGGC CTGGATACAG TGAAATAGAC AGACGGTCAT TG -             #GAGTCATG    240                                                                  - - TGCTCTCTAG GTGAA              - #                  - #                       - #   255                                                                   - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:33:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 3974 base - #pairs                                                 (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: both                                                         (D) TOPOLOGY: both                                                    - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                               - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:33:                               - - GGTACCTAAG TGAGTAGGGC GTCCGATCGA CGGACGCCTT TTTTTTGAAT TC -              #GTAATCAT     60                                                                  - - GGTCATAGCT GTTTCCTGTG TGAAATTGTT ATCCGCTCAC AATTCCACAC AA -             #CATACGAG    120                                                                  - - CCGGAAGCAT AAAGTGTAAA GCCTGGGGTG CCTAATGAGT GAGCTAACTC AC -             #ATTAATTG    180                                                                  - - CGTTGCGCTC ACTGCCCGCT TTCCAGTCGG GAAACCTGTC GTGCCAGCTG CA -             #TTAATGAA    240                                                                  - - TCGGCCAACG CGCGGGGAGA GGCGGTTTGC GTATTGGGCG CTCTTCCGCT TC -             #CTCGCTCA    300                                                                  - - CTGACTCGCT GCGCTCGGTC GTTCGGCTGC GGCGAGCGGT ATCAGCTCAC TC -             #AAAGGCGG    360                                                                  - - TAATACGGTT ATCCACAGAA TCAGGGGATA ACGCAGGAAA GAACATGTGA GC -             #AAAAGGCC    420                                                                  - - AGCAAAAGGC CAGGAACCGT AAAAAGGCCG CGTTGCTGGC GTTTTTCCAT AG -             #GCTCCGCC    480                                                                  - - CCCCTGACGA GCATCACAAA AATCGACGCT CAAGTCAGAG GTGGCGAAAC CC -             #GACAGGAC    540                                                                  - - TATAAAGATA CCAGGCGTTT CCCCCTGGAA GCTCCCTCGT GCGCTCTCCT GT -             #TCCGACCC    600                                                                  - - TGCCGCTTAC CGGATACCTG TCCGCCTTTC TCCCTTCGGG AAGCGTGGCG CT -             #TTCTCATA    660                                                                  - - GCTCACGCTG TAGGTATCTC AGTTCGGTGT AGGTCGTTCG CTCCAAGCTG GG -             #CTGTGTGC    720                                                                  - - ACGAACCCCC CGTTCAGCCC GACCGCTGCG CCTTATCCGG TAACTATCGT CT -             #TGAGTCCA    780                                                                  - - ACCCGGTAAG ACACGACTTA TCGCCACTGG CAGCAGCCAC TGGTAACAGG AT -             #TAGCAGAG    840                                                                  - - CGAGGTATGT AGGCGGTGCT ACAGAGTTCT TGAAGTGGTG GCCTAACTAC GG -             #CTACACTA    900                                                                  - - GAAGAACAGT ATTTGGTATC TGCGCTCTGC TGAAGCCAGT TACCTTCGGA AA -             #AAGAGTTG    960                                                                  - - GTAGCTCTTG ATCCGGCAAA CAAACCACCG CTGGTAGCGG TGGTTTTTTT GT -             #TTGCAAGC   1020                                                                  - - AGCAGATTAC GCGCAGAAAA AAAGGATCTC AAGAAGATCC TTTGATCTTT TC -             #TACGGGGT   1080                                                                  - - CTGACGCTCA GTGGAACGAA AACTCACGTT AAGGGATTTT GGTCATGAGA TT -             #ATCGTCGA   1140                                                                  - - CAATTCGCGC GCGAAGGCGA AGCGGCATGC ATTTACGTTG ACACCATCGA AT -             #GGTGCAAA   1200                                                                  - - ACCTTTCGCG GTATGGCATG ATAGCGCCCG GAAGAGAGTC AATTCAGGGT GG -             #TGAATGTG   1260                                                                  - - AAACCAGTAA CGTTATACGA TGTCGCAGAG TATGCCGGTG TCTCTTATCA GA -             #CCGTTTCC   1320                                                                  - - CGCGTGGTGA ACCAGGCCAG CCACGTTTCT GCGAAAACGC GGGAAAAAGT GG -             #AAGCGGCG   1380                                                                  - - ATGGCGGAGC TGAATTACAT TCCCAACCGC GTGGCACAAC AACTGGCGGG CA -             #AACAGTCG   1440                                                                  - - TTGCTGATTG GCGTTGCCAC CTCCAGTCTG GCCCTGCACG CGCCGTCGCA AA -             #TTGTCGCG   1500                                                                  - - GCGATTAAAT CTCGCGCCGA TCAACTGGGT GCCAGCGTGG TGGTGTCGAT GG -             #TAGAACGA   1560                                                                  - - AGCGGCGTCG AAGCCTGTAA AGCGGCGGTG CACAATCTTC TCGCGCAACG CG -             #TCAGTGGG   1620                                                                  - - CTGATCATTA ACTATCCGCT GGATGACCAG GATGCCATTG CTGTGGAAGC TG -             #CCTGCACT   1680                                                                  - - AATGTTCCGG CGTTATTTCT TGATGTCTCT GACCAGACAC CCATCAACAG TA -             #TTATTTTC   1740                                                                  - - TCCCATGAAG ACGGTACGCG ACTGGGCGTG GAGCATCTGG TCGCATTGGG TC -             #ACCAGCAA   1800                                                                  - - ATCGCGCTGT TAGCGGGCCC ATTAAGTTCT GTCTCGGCGC GTCTGCGTCT GG -             #CTGGCTGG   1860                                                                  - - CATAAATATC TCACTCGCAA TCAAATTCAG CCGATAGCGG AACGGGAAGG CG -             #ACTGGAGT   1920                                                                  - - GCCATGTCCG GTTTTCAACA AACCATGCAA ATGCTGAATG AGGGCATCGT TC -             #CCACTGCG   1980                                                                  - - ATGCTGGTTG CCAACGATCA GATGGCGCTG GGCGCAATGC GCGCCATTAC CG -             #AGTCCGGG   2040                                                                  - - CTGCGCGTTG GTGCGGATAT CTCGGTAGTG GGATACGACG ATACCGAAGA CA -             #GCTCATGT   2100                                                                  - - TATATCCCGC CGTTAACCAC CATCAAACAG GATTTTCGCC TGCTGGGGCA AA -             #CCAGCGTG   2160                                                                  - - GACCGCTTGC TGCAACTCTC TCAGGGCCAG GCGGTGAAGG GCAATCAGCT GT -             #TGCCCGTC   2220                                                                  - - TCACTGGTGA AAAGAAAAAC CACCCTGGCG CCCAATACGC AAACCGCCTC TC -             #CCCGCGCG   2280                                                                  - - TTGGCCGATT CATTAATGCA GCTGGCACGA CAGGTTTCCC GACTGGAAAG CG -             #GGCAGTGA   2340                                                                  - - GCGCAACGCA ATTAATGTAA GTTAGCGCGA ATTGTCGACC AAAGCGGCCA TC -             #GTGCCTCC   2400                                                                  - - CCACTCCTGC AGTTCGGGGG CATGGATGCG CGGATAGCCG CTGCTGGTTT CC -             #TGGATGCC   2460                                                                  - - GACGGATTTG CACTGCCGGT AGAACTCCGC GAGGTCGTCC AGCCTCAGGC AG -             #CAGCTGAA   2520                                                                  - - CCAACTCGCG AGGGGATCGA GCCCGGGGTG GGCGAAGAAC TCCAGCATGA GA -             #TCCCCGCG   2580                                                                  - - CTGGAGGATC ATCCAGCCGG CGTCCCGGAA AACGATTCCG AAGCCCAACC TT -             #TCATAGAA   2640                                                                  - - GGCGGCGGTG GAATCGAAAT CTCGTGATGG CAGGTTGGGC GTCGCTTGGT CG -             #GTCATTTC   2700                                                                  - - GAACCCCAGA GTCCCGCTCA GAAGAACTCG TCAAGAAGGC GATAGAAGGC GA -             #TGCGCTGC   2760                                                                  - - GAATCGGGAG CGGCGATACC GTAAAGCACG AGGAAGCGGT CAGCCCATTC GC -             #CGCCAAGC   2820                                                                  - - TCTTCAGCAA TATCACGGGT AGCCAACGCT ATGTCCTGAT AGCGGTCCGC CA -             #CACCCAGC   2880                                                                  - - CGGCCACAGT CGATGAATCC AGAAAAGCGG CCATTTTCCA CCATGATATT CG -             #GCAAGCAG   2940                                                                  - - GCATCGCCAT GGGTCACGAC GAGATCCTCG CCGTCGGGCA TGCGCGCCTT GA -             #GCCTGGCG   3000                                                                  - - AACAGTTCGG CTGGCGCGAG CCCCTGATGC TCTTCGTCCA GATCATCCTG AT -             #CGACAAGA   3060                                                                  - - CCGGCTTCCA TCCGAGTACG TGCTCGCTCG ATGCGATGTT TCGCTTGGTG GT -             #CGAATGGG   3120                                                                  - - CAGGTAGCCG GATCAAGCGT ATGCAGCCGC CGCATTGCAT CAGCCATGAT GG -             #ATACTTTC   3180                                                                  - - TCGGCAGGAG CAAGGTGAGA TGACAGGAGA TCCTGCCCCG GCACTTCGCC CA -             #ATAGCAGC   3240                                                                  - - CAGTCCCTTC CCGCTTCAGT GACAACGTCG AGCACAGCTG CGCAAGGAAC GC -             #CCGTCGTG   3300                                                                  - - GCCAGCCACG ATAGCCGCGC TGCCTCGTCC TGCAGTTCAT TCAGGGCACC GG -             #ACAGGTCG   3360                                                                  - - GTCTTGACAA AAAGAACCGG GCGCCCCTGC GCTGACAGCC GGAACACGGC GG -             #CATCAGAG   3420                                                                  - - CAGCCGATTG TCTGTTGTGC CCAGTCATAG CCGAATAGCC TCTCCACCCA AG -             #CGGCCGGA   3480                                                                  - - GAACCTGCGT GCAATCCATC TTGTTCAATC ATGCGAAACG ATCCTCATCC TG -             #TCTCTTGA   3540                                                                  - - TCAGATCTTG ATCCCCTGCG CCATCAGATC CTTGGCGGCA AGAAAGCCAT CC -             #AGTTTACT   3600                                                                  - - TTGCAGGGCT TCCCAACCTT ACCAGAGGGC GCCCCAGCTG GCAATTCCGG TT -             #CGCTTGCT   3660                                                                  - - GTCCATAAAA CCGCCCAGTC TAGCTATCGC CATGTAAGCC CACTGCAAGC TA -             #CCTGCTTT   3720                                                                  - - CTCTTTGCGC TTGCGTTTTC CCTTGTCCAG ATAGCCCAGT AGCTGACATT CA -             #TCCGGGGT   3780                                                                  - - CAGCACCGTT TCTGCGGACT GGCTTTCTAC GTGTTCCGCT TCCTTTAGCA GC -             #CCTTGCGC   3840                                                                  - - CCTGAGTGCT TGCGGCAGCG TGAAGCTTAA AAAACTGCAA AAAATAGTTT GA -             #CTTGTGAG   3900                                                                  - - CGGATAACAA TTAAGATGTA CCCAATTGTG AGCGGATAAC AATTTCACAC AT -             #TAAAGAGG   3960                                                                  - - AGAAATTACA TATG              - #                  - #                       - #   3974                                                                   - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:34:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 112 base - #pairs                                                  (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: both                                                         (D) TOPOLOGY: both                                                    - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                               - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:34:                               - - AAGCTTAAAA AACTGCAAAA AATAGTTTGA CTTGTGAGCG GATAACAATT AA -              #GATGTACC     60                                                                  - - CAATTGTGAG CGGATAACAA TTTCACACAT TAAAGAGGAG AAATTACATA TG - #                 112                                                                      __________________________________________________________________________ 

What is claimed is:
 1. An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence at least 95% identical to a sequence selected from the group consisting of:(a) a nucleotide sequence encoding amino acids 1 to 640 in SEQ ID NO:2; (b) a nucleotide sequence encoding amino acids 2 to 640 in SEQ ID NO:2; (c) a nucleotide sequence encoding amino acids 11 to 640 in SEQ ID NO:2; (d) a nucleotide sequence encoding amino acids 51 to 640 of SEQ ID NO:2; (e) a nucleotide sequence encoding amino acids 516 to 640 in SEQ ID NO:2; (f) a nucleotide sequence encoding amino acids 1 to 388 of SEQ ID NO:2; (g) a nucleotide sequence encoding amino acids 1 to 498 of SEQ ID NO:2; (h) a nucleotide sequence encoding amino acids 7 to 350 in SEQ ID NO:2; (i) a nucleotide sequence encoding amino acids 50 to 389 in SEQ ID NO:2; (j) a nucleotide sequence encoding amino acids 443 to 474 in SEQ ID NO:2; (k) a nucleotide sequence encoding the amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA clone contained in ATCC Deposit No. 97863; and (l) a nucleotide sequence that is the complement of any of the nucleotide sequences in (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i), (j) or (k).
 2. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 1, which is fused to a heterologous polynucleotide.
 3. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 1, wherein said heterologous polynucleotide encodes a heterologous polypeptide.
 4. A method for making a vector comprising inserting an isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 into a vector.
 5. A vector comprising the isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim
 1. 6. A method of making a host cell comprising introducing the recombinant vector of claim 5 into a host cell.
 7. A host cell produced by the method of claim
 6. 8. A method for producing an ELL2 polypeptide or a fragment thereof, comprising culturing the host cell of claim 7 under conditions such that said polypeptide or fragment thereof is expressed and recovering said polypeptide or fragment thereof.
 9. A host cell comprising the isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 operatively associated with a regulatory sequence that controls gene expression.
 10. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 1, which comprises a nucleotide sequence at least 95% identical to the nucleotide sequence of (a).
 11. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 10, which comprises a polynucleotide encoding amino acids 1 to 640 of SEQ ID NO:2.
 12. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 11, which comprises nucleotides 94 to 2013 of SEQ ID NO:1.
 13. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 1, which comprises a nucleotide sequence at least 95% identical to the nucleotide sequence of (b).
 14. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 13, which comprises a polynucleotide encoding amino acids 2 to 640 of SEQ ID NO:2.
 15. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 14, which comprises nucleotides 97 to 2013 of SEQ ID NO:1.
 16. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 1, which comprises a nucleotide sequence at least 95% identical to the nucleotide sequence of (c).
 17. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 16, which comprises a polynucleotide encoding amino acids 11 to 640 of SEQ ID NO:2.
 18. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 17, which comprises nucleotides 124 to 2013 of SEQ ID NO:1.
 19. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 1, which comprises a nucleotide sequence at least 95% identical to the nucleotide sequence of (d).
 20. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 19, which comprises a polynucleotide encoding amino acids 51 to 640 of SEQ ID NO:2.
 21. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 20, which comprises nucleotides 244 to 2013 of SEQ ID NO:1.
 22. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 1, which comprises a nucleotide sequence at least 95% identical to the nucleotide sequence of (e).
 23. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 22, which comprises a polynucleotide encoding amino acids 516 to 640 of SEQ ID NO:2.
 24. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 23, which comprises nucleotides 1639 to 2013 of SEQ ID NO:1.
 25. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 1, which comprises a nucleotide sequence at least 95% identical to the nucleotide sequence of (f).
 26. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 25, which comprises a polynucleotide encoding amino acids 1 to 388 of SEQ ID NO:2.
 27. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 26, which comprises nucleotides 94 to 1257 of SEQ ID NO:1.
 28. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 1, which comprises a nucleotide sequence at least 95% identical to the nucleotide sequence of (g).
 29. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 28, which comprises a polynucleotide encoding amino acids 1 to 498 of SEQ ID NO:2.
 30. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 29, which comprises nucleotides 94 to 1587 of SEQ ID NO:1.
 31. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 1, which comprises a nucleotide sequence at least 95% identical to the nucleotide sequence of (h).
 32. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 31, which comprises a polynucleotide encoding amino acids 7 to 350 of SEQ ID NO:2.
 33. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 32, which comprises nucleotides 112 to 1143 of SEQ ID NO:1.
 34. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 1, which comprises a nucleotide sequence at least 95% identical to the nucleotide sequence of (i).
 35. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 34, which comprises a polynucleotide encoding amino acids 50 to 389 of SEQ ID NO:2.
 36. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 35, which comprises nucleotides 241 to 1260 of SEQ ID NO:1.
 37. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 1, which comprises a nucleotide sequence at least 95% identical to the nucleotide sequence of (j).
 38. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 37, which comprises a polynucleotide encoding amino acids 443 to 474 of SEQ ID NO:2.
 39. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 38, which comprises nucleotides 1420 to 1515 of SEQ ID NO:1.
 40. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 1, which comprises a nucleotide sequence at least 95% identical to the nucleotide sequence of (k).
 41. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 40, which comprises a polynucleotide encoding the amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA clone contained in ATCC Deposit No.
 97863. 42. An isolated nucleic acid molecule the sequence of which comprises 20 contiguous nucleotides of the coding region of SEQ ID NO:1, provided that said sequence is not W92650 (SEQ ID NO:15), W94585 (SEQ ID NO:16), AA243384 (SEQ ID NO:17), AA655966 (SEQ ID NO:18), N39822 (SEQ ID NO:19), AA545429 (SEQ ID NO:20), R16400 (SEQ ID NO:21), T89063 (SEQ ID NO:22), AA370048 (SEQ ID NO:23), AA375277 (SEQ ID NO:24), R12663 (SEQ ID NO:25), AA414990 (SEQ ID NO:26), AA252607 (SEQ ID NO:27), AA191245 (SEQ ID NO:28), AA524290 (SEQ ID NO:29), AA370180 (SEQ ID NO:30), Z20670 (SEQ ID NO:31), and AA009921 (SEQ ID NO:32).
 43. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 42, wherein said sequence comprises 50 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:1.
 44. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 43, wherein said sequence comprises 100 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:1.
 45. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 44, wherein said sequence comprises 200 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:1.
 46. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 45, wherein said sequence comprises 300 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:1.
 47. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 46, wherein said sequence comprises 400 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:1.
 48. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 47, wherein said sequence comprises 500 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:1.
 49. An isolated nucleic acid molecule the sequence of which comprises 550 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:1.
 50. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 49, wherein said sequence comprises 600 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:1.
 51. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 42, wherein said sequence comprises 20 contiguous nucleotides of the coding region of SEQ ID NO:1.
 52. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 51, wherein said sequence comprises 50 contiguous nucleotides of the coding region of SEQ ID NO:1.
 53. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 52, wherein said sequence comprises 100 contiguous nucleotides of the coding region of SEQ ID NO:1.
 54. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 53, wherein said sequence comprises 200 contiguous nucleotides of the coding region of SEQ ID NO:1.
 55. An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a first polynucleotide which hybridizes to a second polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence of the coding region of SEQ ID NO:1 or the complement thereof; wherein said first polynucleotide does not have the nucleotide sequence of W92650 (SEQ ID NO:15), W94585 (SEQ ID NO:16), AA243384 (SEQ ID NO:17), AA655966 (SEQ ID NO:18), N39822 (SEQ ID NO:19), AA545429 (SEQ ID NO:20), R16400 (SEQ ID NO:21), T89063 (SEQ ID NO:22), AA370048 (SEQ ID NO:23), AA375277 (SEQ ID NO:24), R12663 (SEQ ID NO:25), AA414990 (SEQ ID NO:26), AA252607 (SEQ ID NO:27), AA191245 (SEQ ID NO:28), AA524290 (SEQ ID NO:29), AA370180 (SEQ ID NO:30), Z20670 (SEQ ID NO:31), and AA009921 (SEQ ID NO:32).
 56. An isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a fusion protein comprising a portion of a human ELL2 protein linked to a heterologous amino acid sequence, wherein said portion of a human ELL2 protein is selected from the group consisting of:(a) amino acids 11 to 640 of SEQ ID NO:2; (b) amino acids 51 to 640 of SEQ ID NO:2; (c) amino acids 516 to 640 of SEQ ID NO:2; (d) amino acids 1 to 388 of SEQ ID NO:2; (e) amino acids 1 to 498 of SEQ ID NO:2; (f) amino acids 7 to 350 of SEQ ID NO:2; (g) amino acids 50 to 389 of SEQ ID NO:2; and (h) amino acids 443 to 474 of SEQ ID NO:2.
 57. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 56, wherein said portion of a human ELL2 protein is (a).
 58. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 56, wherein said portion of a human ELL2 protein is (b).
 59. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 56, wherein said portion of a human ELL2 protein is (c).
 60. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 56, wherein said portion of a human ELL2 protein is (d).
 61. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 56, wherein said portion of a human ELL2 protein is (e).
 62. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 56, wherein said portion of a human ELL2 protein is (f).
 63. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 56, wherein said portion of a human ELL2 protein is (g).
 64. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 56, wherein said portion of a human ELL2 protein is (h).
 65. A method for making a vector comprising inserting an isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 56 into a vector.
 66. A vector comprising the isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim
 56. 67. A method of making a host cell comprising introducing the vector of claim 66 into a host cell.
 68. A host cell produced by the method of claim
 67. 69. A method for producing an ELL2 polypeptide or a fragment thereof, comprising culturing the host cell of claim 68 under conditions such that said polypeptide or fragment thereof is expressed and recovering said polypeptide or fragment thereof.
 70. A host cell comprising the isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 56 operatively associated with a regulatory sequence that controls gene expression.
 71. An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of:(a) a nucleotide sequence encoding amino acids 121 to 140 in SEQ ID NO:2; (b) a nucleotide sequence encoding amino acids 141 to 160 in SEQ ID NO:2; (c) a nucleotide sequence encoding amino acids 161 to 180 in SEQ ID NO:2; (d) a nucleotide sequence encoding amino acids 181 to 200 in SEQ ID NO:2; (e) a nucleotide sequence encoding amino acids 381 to 400 in SEQ ID NO:2: (f) a nucleotide sequence encoding amino acids 421 to 440 in SEQ ID NO:2; and (g) a nucleotide sequence encoding amino acids 441 to 460 in SEQ ID NO:2.
 72. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 71, which comprises a polynucleotide encoding amino acids 121 to 140 of SEQ ID NO:2.
 73. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 72, which comprises nucleotides 454 to 513 of SEQ ID NO:1.
 74. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 71, which comprises a polynucleotide encoding amino acids 141 to 160 of SEQ ID NO:2.
 75. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 74, which comprises nucleotides 514 to 573 of SEQ ID NO:1.
 76. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 71, which comprises a polynucleotide encoding amino acids 161 to 180 of SEQ ID NO:2.
 77. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 76, which comprises nucleotides 574 to 633 of SEQ ID NO:1.
 78. The isolatednucleic acid molecule of claim 71, which comprises apolynucleotide encoding amino acids 181 to 200 of SEQ ID NO:2.
 79. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 78, which comprises nucleotides 634 to 693 of SEQ ID NO:1.
 80. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 71, which comprises a polynucleotide encoding amino acids 381 to 400 of SEQ ID NO:2.
 81. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 80, which comprises nucleotides 1234 to 1293 of SEQ ID NO:1.
 82. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 71, which comprises a polynucleotide encoding amino acids 421 to 440 of SEQ ID NO:2.
 83. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 82, which comprises nucleotides 1354 to 1413 of SEQ ID NO:1.
 84. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 71, which comprises a polynucleotide encoding amino acids 441 to 460 of SEQ ID NO:2.
 85. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 84, which comprises nucleotides 1414 to 1473 of SEQ ID NO:1.
 86. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 71, which is fused to a heterologous polynucleotide.
 87. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 71, wherein said heterologous polynucleotide encodes a heterologous polypeptide.
 88. A method for making a vector comprising inserting an isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 71 into a vector.
 89. A vector comprising the isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim
 71. 90. A method of making a host cell comprising introducing the vector of claim 89 into a host cell.
 91. A host cell produced by the method of claim
 90. 92. A method for producing an ELL2 polypeptide or a fragment thereof, comprising culturing the host cell of claim 91 under conditions such that said polypeptide or fragment thereof is expressed and recovering said polypeptide or fragment thereof.
 93. A host cell comprising the isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 71 operatively associated with a regulatory sequence that controls gene expression.
 94. An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence which encodes 20 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO:2, provided that said nucleotide sequence is not W92650 (SEQ ID NO:15), W94585 (SEQ ID NO:16), AA243384 (SEQ ID NO:17), AA655966 (SEQ ID NO:18), N39822 (SEQ ID NO:19), AA545429 (SEQ ID NO:20), R16400(SEQ ID NO:21), T89063 (SEQ ID NO:22), AA370048 (SEQ ID NO:23), AA375277 (SEQ ID NO:24), R12663 (SEQ ID NO:25), AA414990 (SEQ ID NO:26), AA252607 (SEQ ID NO:27), AA191245 (SEQ ID NO:28), AA524290 (SEQ ID NO:29), AA370180 (SEQ ID NO:30), Z20670 (SEQ ID NO:31), and AA009921 (SEQ ID NO:32).
 95. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 94 comprising a nucleotide sequence which encodes 30 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO:2.
 96. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 95 comprising a nucleotide sequence which encodes 50 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO:2. 